The rim country of the Red River Canyon Yunnan China, Yuanyang reflective terrace fields. Up from the fantastic Hani Rice Terraces, in the mountains above Yuanyang, the water flowing down to irrigate the fields looks crystal clear, and the air is incredible clean, strolling on the stairway to heaven, you can drink in to your [...]

Natural rural life ways in the canyonlands of eastern Yunnan during harvest season. Four ethnic groups the Yi, Buyi, Miao and Han dominate the landscapes of eastern Yunnan canyonlands. Weddings as well as childhood and old age blend so naturally that all life ways from highly urbanized to very rural blend very seamlessly day to [...]

DongChuan/Red Earth Terraces In contrast to their gigantic sister canyons of western Yunnan, the earths largest and deepest, the canyons of eastern Yunnan would be considered mid-sized by world standard measurements yet very colorful and diverse. In northeast the soil is made up of Iron Oxide red earth and  the southeast Karst (limestone) geology of [...]

The Tara River Canyon/Gorge is one of Europe’s three deepest competing with the Vicos Gorge of Greece and the Verdon Gorge of France.  All are so close in depth that it would be scientifically impossible be certain which is absolutely the deepest. That being a geographical fact,  nationalistic claims can continue unabated, perhaps forever. One [...]

A lovely covey of ducks glide on Karakul Lake into the mirror image of Muztagh Ata peaks ice fields. “Muztagh Ata lies just south of Kongur Tagh, the highest peak of the Kunlun Shan. Together they form a somewhat isolated group, separated from the main chain of the Kunlun, and also separate from the Pamir [...]

Muztagata Peak (7546 meters) along the Indian/Pakistan southern branch of the ancient silk road. Now a major paved highway for trade from modern China to Pakistan. This landmark uniquely rounded land mark covered with a thick covering of glaciers now has some “nomad tents” set up to accommodate overnight tourist. When we arrived we were [...]

China’s most famous ethnic dancer, Yang Li Ping, has invited the dancing orphans to participate in her award winning dancing program “Dynamic Yunnan” this summer 2010. Left to right: XJ Fan, Yang Li Ping, Richard D. Fisher and Maria Gates

High Tibetan Plateau Orphan to Shangri-la Orphanage In 1990, I went back to Tibet for the first time since my childhood. Usually people who travel to this country are interested in religion or landscapes or visiting their relatives. When I arrived, all I could see were the orphans and the street children. I was so [...]

A friend emailed us this message: “Great to hear that you are putting Laotian Canyons on the world map and introducing new words to Sanskrit dictionaries in South east Asia.” “It would be a bit presumptuous for us to put any new words in the Sanskrit dictionary, but we were told by local authorities there [...]