FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (Tiger Leaping Gorge)

TO ME, to visit Europe is to visit buildings and experience cultural institutions unchanged for the last 200 years (at least) - that probably won't change for the next 200. There is certainly no rush in getting there.

China is at the other end of the spectrum. Like Isengard - its minions are busy chopping it down, digging it up, damming it or paving it in order to build great machines. You have to see it before it's all gone.



This was particularly true for the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Separate, but similar to the three gorges project - the intention is to transform this glorious valley into a source of hydroelectric power for Chinese Websurfers. This is scheduled to occur in less than 18 months - indeed work on it has already begun. Thus, our travelling priorities lean towards China (apart from visiting Kathryn, and enjoying the fantastic exchange rate).




The legend of the Tiger Leaping Gorge suggests that the two mountain ranges, the Lijian Mountains (Haba) and the Zhong Dian Mountains (Yulang) come so close at this gorge - that a tiger could leap across at their closest point. I haven't seen any tigers around here - but the cats we had at home could jump some incredible distances.






The mountain ranges were indeed vast, much more than could be seen froma single perspective. The tops vanished into the cloud - more than 3000m above - the bases met at the Yangze river - muddy, torrential set of rapids below.

Cool - done that. They can dam it now.