Birdwatching at Waerzhai temple, Muli: photos by John and Jemi Holmes

Waerzhai temple ruins, Sichuan, originally uploaded by jiulong.

A fascinating trip report from these two Hong Kong 'birders'. It includes some excellent pictures and also some very up to date information on travel up the Litang river valley to Muli from Xichang and Lugu Lake. I never realised there was so much bird life in this region.

See their website here (http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/cn/ynsc/2006_12_yn_sc.htm)


They also have the first contemporary pictures I have ever seen of the Waerdje temple near Chabulang - this was one of the three Royal residences of the King of Muli. He alternated between the monasteries at Muli (Wachang), Kulu (now known as Kangwu) and Waerdje (now known as Waerzhai). I had heard that the other temples were mostly ruins, but these pictures suggest some rebuilding has been done.

Here is a picture of monks at Waerdje that Rock took in the 1920s:

Minya Konka trek photos by Peter Jost

Photo by Peter Jost: taken on Minya Konka trek, Sichuan, originally uploaded by jiulong.

If you want to see some excellent pictures of the trek to Minya Konka, follow this link to the website of Peter Jost (http://home.exetel.com.au/josties/), an Australian trekker. He recently did the trek to the tiny gompa at the foot of Minya Konka and even camped out on the Tsemi La pass! Amaazing pictures and they had good weather, too. I'm jealous.

New photos of Minya Konka and Jiulong

There are some great new photo galleries. posted at the chinabackpacker.com website. They also have some good photos of the Jiulong and Changhaizi/Maidi Gangga area worth seeing - not to mention the great practical travel advice for this area.