Let China Sleep...

Carvings dotting both sides of this stone bridge connecting two parts of Xiaoxi Village, Sichuan. The bridge looked ancient, as do these carvings. It definitely predates every single structure we saw there....who knows how long the carvings and this bridge have been there? I wish I had asked some of the locals while I was there. January 2019. . . . . . . . #travelstories #sichuan #travelsichuan #history #chinesehistory #thisishistory #oldstuff #ancienttowns #ancienttown #ancientvillage #ancientvillages #oldtown #oldtowns #fascinating #coolstuff #itsamystery https://www.instagram.com/p/BtV-dLPB1_q/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=199jl4oykw2zq

市场，market. This old Republic of China-era building used to be the center of activity in Xiaoxi Ancient Village, but these days, it's empty, mostly being used for storage of goods and chickens. Most of the commerce now takes place up in the modern village of Xiaoxi. . . . . . #sichuan #travelsichuan #sichuantravel #xiaoxi #villages #villagelife #republicofchina #oldtowns #theoldways #travel #china #xiaoxi https://www.instagram.com/p/BtSkjrgBwLj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9i9n1rteoxsa

Bridge connecting one part of Xiaoxi Village with another. Sichuan, China. January 2019 . . . . . #sichuan #ancienttowns #ancientvillage #village #villagelife #xiaoxi #travelphotography #travelsichuan #sichuantravel #travelchina #chinatravel #chinaexpat #sichuanexpat #americaninchina https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGfcZohDY7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ko3gfj0g7g3f

We found a mosque AND a Buddhist temple in the same tiny ancient village of maybe 200-300 people in Yankou (沿口古镇), Sichuan. Wild! Was told by the man at the mosque it dates back to 1778 and is the only mosque in the entire area of Yankou, Wusheng, and Guang'an. What a unique find! . . . . . #china #sichuan #islaminchina #chinesemuslims #chinesemuslim #mosquesinchina #chinesemosque #buddhisminchina #chinesebuddhism #buddhismandislam #islam #travelstories #travelsichuan #travelchina #harmony #coexist #religioninchina #lovetravel #yankou #guangan #wusheng https://www.instagram.com/p/BtCoF5Qhijh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=usljhci8s8ct

Local at work tending to his vegetables in Yankou Village (沿口古镇), Sichuan. One of my favorite villages I have visited so far! . . . . . . #sichuan #travelphotography #travelasia #ancienttowns #ancientvillage #ancienttown #wusheng #guangan #travelchina #chinatravel #villagelife #villagecrawl #village #villages #theoldways #china #lovetravel #lovechina #americaninchina #laowai #deepchina #deepsichuan #goingdeep https://www.instagram.com/p/BtAfjMZhmH1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11kr453o91l66

Former town square of Xiaoxi Village (肖溪镇), built during the Republic of China days. A shame to see it crumbling and falling into disrepair, but unfortunately, the passing of time is rarely kind to rural villages such as this one. . . . . . #sichuan #travel #china #republicofchina #oldtowns #ancienttowns #xiaoxi #travelsichuan #sichuantravel #travelchina #thisischina #oldchina #oldstreets #village https://www.instagram.com/p/BtABnobBcIC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=196soqa7x1ksr

Smoking New Year's sausages with corn cob and cedar trimmings....never seen that before - cool! Xiaoxi Village, Sichuan (肖溪古镇) #sichuan #chinesenewyear #travel #deepchina #unseenchina #hiddenchina #travelchina #chinatravel #sichuantravel #travelsichuan #xiangchang #villagelife #chinesevillages https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs9tmgahzU7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dhy25o53hwa9

Man, the Chinese love their QR codes....they're absolutely everywhere. Even 1000 year-old buddhas can't escape! #china #sichuan #guangyuan #travel #weirdchina #wtfchina #qrcodes #qrcodemadness #travelchina (at Guangyuan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs4Tgw1hB1N/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=j6cvq77msbgd

Past meets the present. 1000+ year old buddhas facing the high-speed railway outside of Guangyuan, Sichuan #china #sichuan #guangyuan #buddha #buddhism #buddhisttemple #grottoes #buddhistgrottoes #travel #travelchina #asia #travelsichuan #pastvspresent #pastmeetspresent #foodforthought https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs0cHMnhax3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=99m0jw7c9z0q

Zhaohua Ancient Town 昭化古镇 #sichuan (at Guangyuan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BswswAGh4kP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kvk0wdghi3cs

Going caving today! Wolong Cave #china #travel #travelchina #sichuan #mianyang #beichuan (at Mianyang) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsut7pxhLDA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hy1y9u4nixdn

I'm in trouble now... (at Chengdu, Sichuan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Brw_64ehtGs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1i1gzmt7gbgpf

Awesome mural at the base of the Chengdu TV Tower #chengdu #china #chengduexpat #chengdu339 #tvtower (at Chengdu, Sichuan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Brwu9VXBe0d/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hmvny8h8yyfl

In a lot of Chinese parks, ancient towns, and tourist attractions, you'll see stone seals / markers in the ground like this. This is 'shou' (寿)，which means 'longevity,' the name of the district of Chongqing I was in at the time (Changshou 长寿). I love these things! . . . . . #chongqing #china #changshou #longevity #parks #towns #stones #stonework #travel #travelphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/BrFpJAtHYHZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hswf3i9r1677

Picking oranges out in the countryside of Changshou, Chongqing! #china #changshou #chongqing #countryside #goingupthecountry https://www.instagram.com/p/BrAckQQB3Ib/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14ni8hbqcsc1a

Coolest entrance to a hotpot restaurant! #hotpot #chengdu # (at Chengdu, Sichuan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq8webXh1LA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=csjx4cwi94o9

In deep China, anything can become a chair. @livingin_ch1na can confirm https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq40-GAhUAI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8ddptm31ffnq