About Shan He Lu
China Landscape Record is a travel journal that records the land of China from a Chinese perspective: it only writes about places we have personally visited and can verify, explaining the itinerary, seasons, transportation, and local tips all at once.
Why is it called 'Shan He Lu' (Record of Mountains and Rivers)
'Lu' means record, not recommendation. What we aim to create is not another list of attractions, but a verifiable record: how many kilometers a route is, when a cableway will close due to strong wind, the best time of day for lighting, and which courtyards are still inhabited.
What we record
- Mountains and rivers: Terrain and seasons. The water level of the Lijiang River, the probability of a sea of clouds at Huangshan, the cloud cover at Qinghai Lake, and when the snow mushrooms in the Snow Village are fully formed.
- Cities and villages: The central axis of Beijing, garden techniques in Suzhou, the river–road–house layout along Pingjiang Road, and the clustered living of Tulou communities.
- Culture: Prostrating in front of Jokhang Temple, clockwise circumambulation of Barkhor Street, and the festivals and daily life of the Miao and Tibetan ethnic groups.
- Practical matters: Documents, mobile payments, high-speed trains and flights, ticket reservations, altitude and equipment.
What we do not write
- We do not write about routes we haven't traveled.
- We do not write unverifiable numbers (tickets, travel times, and altitudes are based on the latest official announcements and marked as subject to change).
- We do not present commercial partnerships as recommendations.
- We do not create a "list of all attractions in the country"—rather than listing a hundred names, we prefer to thoroughly cover twenty places.
Who this is for
Overseas Chinese who live abroad long-term: it might be your first time bringing your children back to visit, accompanying your parents to the places they grew up, or just wanting to confirm some names from textbooks during a holiday. We assume you have an emotional connection to China but are not familiar with present-day China—so each article starts with "what to do on your first day after arriving."
How to use this site
- First, find a suitable region in the Guides section based on the number of days and travel companions.
- Then, check Destinations for the season, routing, and local tips.
- Finally, look at Classic Routes for day-by-day itineraries, confirming daily travel times, accommodations, and meal arrangements.
- The entire site is available in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese, with independent content for each; you can switch languages using the top-right corner.