Shanli Lohas

Shanli Lohas is another ancient village in China.  It is about 120 kilometers from Beijing, however, it takes approximately 2-3 hours to drive their depending on traffic.  The last 15 minutes is up a very narrow and winding road. The current owner built the road when he purchased the city.  Take your time driving. Watch the mirrors provided for your to see around the corners. And, above all, observe Chinese tradition by honking your horn as much as humanly possible.

It was originally occupied by soldiers building the Great Wall of China. In 1933 the city was a non armed area.  This meant the Japanese would not allow the Chinese army to go there. This plunged the people of the village into deep poverty and despair.  The Chinese army finally liberated the city In 1938.

In 1942 it was a center of the anti-Japanese leadership by the communist party. Consequently the city erected a health center.  There are stories of villagers sharing their houses with the soldiers.  They would help the red army by using the doors to their homes when there was not enough stretchers. Or tearing out their cabinets to make coffins for the fallen.

The amenities include a Chinese restaurant and a Western restaurant.  The Chinese restaurant is buffet style while the western restaurant is à la cart. At the top of Shanli Lohas lies and infinity pool. It has amazing views of the mountains and the valley you drove up.  If you look hard enough you can even see some of the towers of the great wall of china. It also has its own brewery as well as a playground and petting zoo.

About 4 kilometers up the road the new owner built, you will find the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall spanned an impressive 21,196 km (13,171 mi). All of the Great Wall is not a tourist destination. And unlike the Great Wall we see in pictures, and are familiar with; the majority has not been restored.

Here you can find one of the untouched sections of the wall that offer some of the greatest views in the world.  As a note: I’m originally from Colorado, so making a statement like this guarantees you one of the best views you will ever see.

Experience the Great Wall as you have never dreamed of experiencing it. Walk either direction for as long as you can. Without all the tourists fighting to get to the top and invading your personal space.  Take a selfie with the Great Wall with no one else around. This is a great opportunity to experience and see how the great wall was originally built.

There is also a tent area that will consist of over 100 tents’ when completed. This offers a way to experience what it must have been like to live in the ancient city hundreds or even thousands of years ago.

The China Most Foreigners Don’t See

China has some of the most beautiful buildings in the world.  The government owns most of these buildings and all of the land. Individuals can purchase a home (condo) in these buildings. However, the ownership is a 70-year lease. Even though prices in Shanghai start at one million dollars, no one really knows whats going to happen after the 70-year lease is over.In local tourist areas such as Jingan Temple shown in these two pictures, you can see the building are very well kept and the facades are really amazing. Jingan Temple is in the city of Shanghai.

If you’re lucky enough to own a house in one of these tourist areas, or on a road where government officials or westerners would be traveling, the government spends the money to keep these facades incredible. It’s a way for China to maintain face throughout the world.

So what happens to some of the buildings that aren’t close to tourist areas or the main roads? What happens to the areas the government doesn’t care about, or worse, has decided to tear down but the tenants aren’t willing to leave.

We lived in an area in Shanghai where just such thing was happening,  As I would walk back and forth to work I would notice people were still living in these partially demolished buildings.  I don’t know why I never took pictures of this but I didn’t and for that I am sorry,

I took these pictures in a city called Harbin. It’s a northern city in China close to the Russian border. As you can see the government isn’t keen on these building. They’re in the middle of the city. But, they look like a  small town in the country that’s close to being unlivable.

It’s not uncommon to see chickens or other livestock living in the middle of the city.  In areas like this, you can see chickens and goats living in the confines of the project.

I understand that all countries have ghetto areas.  In a communist country such as China, I find it funny these areas are so run down. Other areas close to them have been are new and remain pristine. I have walked through here a few times now and have seen Audi’s and BMW’s parked out front of the homes.