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July 29 Water Dragon Dance Ceremony in Luodai Hakkha Ancient TownStarted from 28th of July, annually held "Hakkha Water Dragon Festival" lights up the Luodai Hakkha Town again. Water Dragon Dance Show is a highlight of this festival, local Hakkha performers move up and down the dragon while people use any way they could to spray water over performers and dragons, and the whole street are "armed" people, anybody or car could dare to cross the town, everybody will use their "water spraying gun" to shoot them! If you forgot lock your car, then...GOD BLESS YOU.  July 27 LETO Dark Restaurant, Chengdu Ever thought about to have a dinner like a blind person? Leto Dark Restaurant makes it come true. The feature of this restaurant is just like its name reveals "DARK", thus you even have to make order before you enter the dark room.After ordering your food, Waiters or Waitresses will help you to get into restaurant's dark hall. It's really dark, you can see nothing but performer who playing Violin and SAX in dark with fluorescent wings. Waiters guided us to have a seat in somewhere have a sofa, we sat down and waited for food and listen to the live music (though it is really not my cup of tea).  Food finally came but we couldn't see anything, but used the hand to touch them in dark, and used the tongue to check if it is which we ordered.Generally it's very bold idea, and it has successfully attracted a lot of Chengdu People's curiosity. Where is this restaurant? San Sheng Jie (三圣街口,郁金香广场2楼）, about 100 meters east to Hongxinglu Walking Street Cross, on the second floor in the same building which ATT KTV can be found. Bon Appite! Medicine for prevention of high altitude sickness.Recently many travelers asked us for where to get DIMOX, a medication which could possibly prevent high altitude sickness. So, I checked the Global Doctor, they confirmed for me that DIMOX actually is its commercial name, the real name of it is technically called "Acetazolamide". It's in fact a medicine for treating the "glaucoma", but it also works (I assume the side effect works) on prevention of high altitude sickness. You can get it from Chengdu No.3 Hospital or which is easier to get from GLOBAL DOCTOR Chengdu Branch as staff there speak good English. Their contact info: MOBILE: 138 808 67859 TEL: 028-8525 9928 FAX: 028-8525 8088 July 26 The change on train to Lhasa from 3rd of Aug to 18th of Oct.From 3rd of Aug to 18th of Oct, passengers on train to Lhasa from Chengdu will have to transfer to another train when the train arrive in Xining. July 15 Torch Festival on 4th of August in Xichang Yi Minority Prefecture.Xichang Yi Minority Prefecture is situated in southwest Sichuan province bordering with Yunnan Province. It takes roughly 14 hours to reach there by train from Chengdu. And there is direct flight to Xichang from Chengdu as well. Annually held Yi Minority Fire Torch Festival will be started on 4th of August, it has just been includes in China's non-material cultural heritage lately and it's actually also the one of the ten most important folk festivals in China. Liang Shan Yi Minority government claimed that they will try to coordinate with national aviation company and state railway department to add more trains and flights to Xichang during this festival. July 13 17173 Comic and Animation Carnival on 21st-22nd of July in Chengdu!The Carnival will be held in Bailian Tianfu Shopping Mall （百联天府）which is located at the intersection of Kehua Road(科华路) and Second Ring Road.  ever thought about taking part in CHINESE VALENTINE'S DAY?On 8th of August, in Pingle Ancient Town, a special celebration will be held there on Chinese Valentine's day. Pingle Ancient Town is about 90 Km west of Chengdu and about 20 Km away from Qionglai City where you need to transfer from Chengdu to Pingle. Pingle Ancient has been famous as a holiday destination in recent years, every weekend many families will drive there and have a relaxing holiday with elders and kids. With it's typical Sichuan Traditional Style housings and many tea houses and home-cook restaurants, you can have a really ease day there with your friends, either have a chitchat or playing Majiang with your Chinese travelmates, or even do the Bamboo Raft on the river which cross the whole town. Time is still and life is laid-back there. The opening ceremony of Chinese Valentine's day in Pingle starts at 8:30, 8th of August and last one hour. During this ceremony you'll see people release the lights in river, and singing and dancing show on Bamboo Raft. The LOVERS' competition will begin on 19th and end up on 21st of August. The closure of Chinese Valentine's day will be on 22nd of August, and during that day you'll find Beer Festival and Facing Changine Lantern Festival in Pingle Ancient Town. How to get there? Take bus from Xin Nan Men Bus Station to Qiong Lai City(2 hours). There are many mini vans to Pingle Ancient Town(half hour) in Qiong Lai City Long Distance Bus Station. The fastest way is to take the bus from Jin Sha Bus Station which is located in West of downtown, it only takes 1 hours to Qiong Lai City. Check out the map in attached picture. July 08 TRANSFORMERS! ROBOTs IN THE SKY!"TRANSFORMERS" will be put on cinema on 11th of July.  English Sound Track Version can be found from following cinemas: 1. Wang Fu Jing Cinema(王府井电影院), it's located right opposite to the north end of Chunxi Street (春熙路北口) 2. Wan Da Cinema(万达电影城). There are two Wan Da Cinemas, one is at Yan Shi Kou (盐市口) close by Carrefour Supermarket and another one can be found in SM (Philippino owned Supermarket) located on east side of 2nd Ring Road. The above two are the best cinema in town. Another cheaper Cinema in Chunxi street called Pacific Cinema, but I'm not sure if they will have English Sound Track Version of Transformers. Global Doctor Chengdu ClinicWhen you got sick in your travel, the most frustrated part is no doubt the communication with the local doctor, at this circumstance the Global Doctor Chengdu Clinic may help you. This one is so far except of the NO.3 hospital as we know where you can find good English Speaking Doctors to talk with. I've never tried but it might be helpful for you. Addess: Global Doctor Chengdu Clinic, Ground Floor of Building Kelan Bangkok Garden. 21#, Section4, Renmin Nanlu, Sichuan, 610041, China. ( 环球医生成都诊所,地址:成都市人民南路四段21号盘谷花园可兰阁听涛苑1楼) Nancy Wang Marketing Executive Mobile: 1388 0867 859 Tel: (028) 8525 9928 Fax: (028) 8525 8088 July 07 Southwest Circle TripFor those who are relatively lazy travelers and are not ready to go Tibet, the Southwest Circle Trip would be perfect for you. This trip starts at Chengdu, then Kangding, Tagong, Baimei, Danba, Rilong(Mt. Four Sister), Wolong(Panda Reserve) and eventually back to Chengdu and vice versa. This trip is mainly for Minority Culture, Kangding is the capital of Kham Tibetan Prefecture, some monasteries are worthing taking a look in town or hire a car to carry you to the Lake "Mugtzo". Tagong Grassland is an ideal place for horse trekking and experience the Tibetan Nomadic life. Country side of Bamei attracts many Photographers in autumn and It mainly plays a role as a transfer point to Danba-The Tibetan Beauty Valley. There are three valleys lie between snow mountains in Rilong, and the Changping gou(Long Steppe Valley) to Li County has long been a challenge route for hikers. If Chengdu's Panda Reserve is not enough to meet your Panda Curiosity, you may stop at Wolong to check out another famous Panda Breeding Center. The estimate time schedule in this journey: Chengdu to Kangding (270 Km, 7 hours, 98RMB or 110 RMB) Kangding to Tagong (110 Km, 4 hours) Tagong to Bamei (30 Km, less than 1 hour, Share the private car, 10 RMB/PERSON) Bamei to Danba (110 Km, about 2 hours, Public bus costs 25 RMB, Bus leaves at 12:30 in Bamei.) Danba to Rilong (via Xiao Jin, 100 Km, about 2 hours) Rilong back to Chengdu (286 Km, about 5-6 hours) Tibetan Horse Racing Festival in Bamei on 17th of July.On 17th of July the TIBETAN HORSE RACING FESTIVAL will be held in Bamei, a town about 100 km north of Tagong. As I was told by SALLY (Tagong Sally's Cafe) the Festival will be started after a grand ceremoney which usually started around 9O'clock in morning, so try to be there earlier as the rooms might be fully booked on that day. P.S: Tagong is about 110 Km away from Kangding, and from Kangding to Chengdu the bus takes 7 hours more or less. For detailed information, you may call Sally:13990454752 July 03 Olympic Torch handover to Sichuan next yearIf you have plan to travel to Sichuan, you may have chance to witness the Olympic Torch Handover ceremony around this province. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch will handover throughout Sichuan province from 15th of June to 18 th of June 2008 when it cross border from "Chongqing". The first city the Olympic Torch is going to visit is "Guangan", the former Chairman Deng Xiao Ping's hometown who regarded as the pioneer of China's economy reform (introduced the market economy) back to 1979. Then, the Olympic Torch will travel to north Sichuan, the High-Tech base city Mianyang which used to play a very important role as a gateway into Shu Kingdom. Afterwards, The Torch will come to the land of misty Guanghan where the SanXingDui Museum located which reveals a part of history had been forgotten for thousands of years. After Guanghan, The Olympic Torch will keep toward south to World's biggest buddha in Leshan and China's one of the most famous Buddhist mountain Emei and the Dinasour city Zigong. Eventually the Olympic Torch will pass by Yibin into Chengdu to prepare it's next journey to ROOF OF THE WORLD "TIBET". Direct fly to Shangri-laGood news. Started on July, now you can choose to fly to Shangri-la (Zhongdian) instead of traveling all the way down Sichuan and Tibet Highway or fly to Lijiang then transfer to Shangri-la. The departure at moment is on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, but hopefully will be on everyday soon. June 02 Floraland Amusement ParkFloraland Amusement Park is probably the best Theme Amusement Park in Chengdu. This park is actually located in WenJiang County, about 1 hour bus ride from Chengdu downtown. The park is big with different themes such like Romantic French, China Town, Small Town of Munich, Chocolate Kingdom, Sunshine of Milan and Capital of Sakura and so on. From each theme zone you can find different kind of Amusement Facility, some are really exciting. Walking around the lake with castle, the restaurants and coffee shops are one to another. Also, the places such like Pottery Making School is very interesting, spend a lazy afternoon, make some potteries by own hand. There are many activities regularly held in park's theater. HOW TO GET THERE? Bus 904 from Xin Nan Men Public Bus Terminal (which is next door to Xin Nan Men Long Distance Bus Station) runs to Floraland directly and cost 2.5 RMB-3.5 RMB. (Bus runs between 8:30am-5:30pm in Chengdu, 10:00am-7:00pm in Wenjiang) May 29 Jin Sha Relic MuseumFor those who are interested in visiting MUSEUM that I'd like to recommend you a great place which located at the west band of the city and it's called Jin Sha Relic Museum. Jin Sha Relic site was accidentally found from an on-going construction site, massive amount of relics, jade products and elephant teech were unearthed and it regarded as the greatest discovery in this new century. Since this discovery has very few relation with Chinese Civilization, it so still remain a part of unknown history which waiting for archaeologist to search it out. Admission: 80 RMB (Strongly recommend you hire a guide) May 21 Sea food BBQ @ Qing Shi QiaoFor those who are looking for night street food, there is a good place for sea food BBQ. It's just in the Qing Shi Qiao （青石桥市场）Market, along the Sea Food Market which supplys many sea food restaurants in Chengdu. Check out the map of Mix Hostel, this market is right at the center of map, the market is just opposite the street where MGM is located. You can only find this Sea Food BBQ after 10:00PM when all the shops closed and Sea Food BBQ Stands all moved out just right after. Normally for one plate of Sea Food cost about 20 RMB-60 RMB. There are also many small stands cook noodle soup, fried rice or hotpot vegetables which is very cheap. Temperature is up now.Since two days ago, the last piece of cool has finally gone and we welcomed the uncomfortably hot summer of Chengdu. Chengdu is located at the bottom of Sichuan basin geographically, clouds are thickly covered and climate humid. It is said that this is the reason why people from Chengdu like eating spicy things, because the spice or hot things can prevent a disease called rheumatism which is caused of humidity. So, buy a pair of flip flop, wear in short pans, hang out around narrow alleys or big shopping mall, be laid-back. May 20 The last existed old quarter in Chengdu.I grew up in east of Chengdu, in my memory there are plenty of tiled roof houses and local markets spotted in narrow alleys. But due to the so called modernization almost all the old houses have been demolished. Instead, what you can now see are those modern high rises and huge residential s. My parents are still living there and today I came back for dinner with them. It was hotpot, my sister and parents like that though I don't appreciate that food particularly. We ate in a narrow alley, it's more like a street food stands, it was full of people. They got really good business. After eating I walked around and many things recalled me memories. My primary school is still there, my classmates' courtyard is gone and there are some on going construction sites where the workers are busy and sweating. But I surprisedly found that there is still an old quarter lively existed, walk in, through those small alleys brings me memories and the atmosphere which has been disappeared for long time! If you look at our map, try to find from the east side, the landmark is Jiuzhaiqiao bridge where the bar street and BABI2 can be found near the Sichuan university. The street of old quarter is called "Shui Jing Jie 水井街", from where you can see how the normal local people live and what they eat, how to chill out or socialize every day. And you can also experience the alley life which quite interesting and real. February 15 Features of Mix HostelHostel Prime Features: * 1.8km up to railway station * 1.6km down to city center * 1 RMB / Min International Call * free Internet, wireless Internet * recover deleted pictures (free) * courtyard big-screen cinema * cheap & healthy western breakfast * English windowXP, burn DVDs, CDs * book train, plane tickets, local tours * large volume hot shower, western toilet * night pub, DVDs, music, beer, chess * lots of travelers for chat 'n' drink * luggage storage free of charge * roof-top garden, chairs for suntan Mix Hostel is next to the central mainstreet of Chengdu. Step out 100m, buses no.16, 99, 55 go to the railway station and south of the city, no.303 goes to the airport and no.1, no.64 buses to many tourist attractions. Bank of China, Postal Office, Starbucks Coffee, Kodak photoshop, Carrefeur store, PSB and plenty outdoor shops and local restaurants can all be found in the neighborhood. Getting around the city, we give you detailed English Map with Bus Routes for free. Budget Tours We Organize: * Flight to Lhasa + TTB Permit * Yangtze River Cruise Tour * Songpan Horse Trekking * Jiu Zhai Gou Valley Bus Trip * Panda Breeding & Reseach Center * Sichuan Opera Face-Changing Show * Leshan Grand Buddha 1 Day Tour February 12 Story of Mix Hostel"Mix & Backpackers' Guesthouse", Hwang Said,"is not bad". It was a sunny day in spring, Hwang and I were sitting beside Fu river, there were couple of tea houses. Hwang is my Korean friend, we met in travel. After 8 months, I finally found an independent building which i can afford the rent in Chengdu, and it's time to discuss a name for this new hostel. Hwang gave a name as "Mix & Backpackers' Guesthouse", I have no disagreement. After being a backpacker for quite a while, I think it's time to start a place with all the ideas backpacker oriented. Therefore hostel began to convert. This building used to be like a garbage house, typical Chinese toliet style tiles decorated, but we determine to change it! What does a backpacker really need? We don't want to even pay a extra cent on which we don't need. The standard requirement is as following: a clean bed, 24 hrs hot shower, western toilet, book swap, internet access, friendly staff, chill out atmosphere and a cup of real coffee. But in Mix we actually offer more: bed comes with a small shelf for your shampoo, a hook and hanger for your towel and clothing; Air-conditioner equiped in most of rooms, for thosewho against air-con at all they may choose to stay in room with fan; internet access is not enough, 24 hours Wifi transmission really benefit laptop users; many lonelyplanet guidebooks free for our guests to read or have it photocopied; great music Mix collected from travels, no backstreet boy and brettney at all! The smell of western breakfast and Cappucino wake you up in morning; cheap tours take you to see Panda or experience the local cultural activities like Sichuan Opera; 24 Hours open DVD room with hundreds of DVD movies; cold beer with characteristic interior design in Chinese traditional style blended with minority style makes you feel living in an exotic place ever. A year quickly passed, and more and more people get to know Mix and Backpackers' Guesthouse. But we think it's too long to remember, thus we changed this name, and make it easier to remember: Mix Hostel |
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