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Travel Pictures - CHINA - 1992

All images © Ron Miller

     My first visit to China was at a much different time than today. In 1992, China was just opening up to the West and voluntarily coming out of its self-imposed isolation under an oppressive dictatorship. The nation was not only opening up economically, but the regime was allowing independent travelers to move about somewhat freely. And, because of China's previous history, the vast majority of Chinese citizens had never seen a Westerner. I was fortunate to visit China at a time that may never be seen again.

All passengers become "one of the people" on this Chinese ferry. If you think this berth looks a bit
uncomfortable for an overnight journey, you should have seen the conditions below deck -
near Guangzhou, China
A wonderful town for travelers, but don't tell the Communists! The year 1992 was a wonderful time to visit Yangshuo;
located in a stunning part of the world, the town was comfortable and exuded a charming innocence -
Xi Jie Street; Yangshuo, China
The majestic, karst landscape of southern China -
Yangshuo, China
A spring downpour muddied the river and flooded the streets and rice paddies of Yangshuo -
Yangshuo, China

Southern China's amazing contrast of precipitous pinnacles and pancake-flat rice paddies -
Yangshuo, China
Me standing on the summit of Moon Hill -
near Yangshuo, China

This lovely young peasant "invited" me to enter the rice paddies (the pinnacle with the crescent-shaped hole is Moon Hill) -
Moon Hill, China

Here I am helping to pull up every last seedling (look at the grin beaming from the young lady) -
Moon Hill, China

Is this water buffalo a pet on a leash or an oriental lawn mower? -
near Yangshuo, China
The wide boulevards of a typical, planned Chinese city -
Liuzhou, China

I think these mesmerized, Chinese gawkers would have stood and stared at the European travelers forever -
Liuzhou, China
Chongqing, in 1992, was a city that could use a good scrubbing -
Chongqing, China
Most Chinese cities are inviting locations to travel by bike -
Chengdu, China
Dafo, the world's largest Buddha -
Leshan, China
From the feet of the mighty Dafo -
Leshan, China
Looking down on the town of Leshan from eye level -
Leshan, China
The 10,100 foot summit of Emeishan is one of China's main pilgrimage sites;
even the elite make their way (on the shoulders of others) to the summit -
near Leshan, China
Travelers draw a crowd even when shooting pool -
Songpan, China
Me with a Muslim teacher and his students -
near Songpan, China
Are the three men at right, laughing with me or at me? -
Jiuzhaigou N.P., China
Me and my friends modeling our "hiking attire" -
Jiuzhaigou N.P., China
While unable to move forward due to impassable roads, I spent a couple of days in this quiet village -
near Songpan, China
Gold fever; A miner showing me the results of his successful panning -
near Songpan, China

Sheep herders I "trespassed" upon in communist China -
near Songpan, China
Bottomed out on top of the world -
Tibetan Plateau, China
Many Tibetans pilgrimage to this isolated monastery in Central China -
Labrang Monastery; Xiahe, China
These devout Buddhists are circumnavigating the monastery to gain karma -
Labrang Monastery; Xiahe, China
The main temple -
Labrang Monastery; Xiahe, China
More devout pilgrims gaining karma by spinning the series of prayer wheels -
Xiahe, China
More pilgrims circumnavigating the monastery; notice the child's "economy" diaper -
Labrang Monastery; Xiahe, China
I came upon this Tibetan Cowboy on a cold day in May -
near Songpan, China
The main tourist area of the Great Wall of China -
Badaling, China
Tourists add color and scale to the Great Wall -
Badaling, China
It is challenging enough to walk along this wall, imagine trying to build it! -
Badaling, China
The wall has an ancient feel, especially where it is crumbling and overgrown -
near Badaling, China
This photo captures only half of this enormous public square -
Tiananmen Square; Beijing, China
Portrait of a monster -
Tiananmen Square; Beijing, China 
Yak at the entrance to the Forbidden City -
Beijing, China
Picture taking at Tiananmen Square -
Beijing, China
During my 1992 visit to China, I turned heads even in the capital city! -
Beijing, China
Bill secures his bike and ties a ribbon to the handlebar so that he can later find it among the ocean of bikes -
Beijing, China
The former summer resort for the Chinese royalty as seen on a hazy summer day -
The Summer Palace; Beijing, China
This capitalist invasion was found just to the "right" of Mao's portrait -
Beijing, China
May I help you? -
Beijing, China
Once the youngsters get a taste for the Happy Meal, it's all over for the Communists -
Beijing, China
Me and the clandestine capitalist agent -
Beijing, China
CLICK HERE FOR CHINA PICTURES IN 2001

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All images © Ron Miller
For authorized use of these photos, please contact Ron Miller at TheHappyCannibal@gmail.com