China 2018

Fenghuang Ancient Town, is situated on the western boundary of Hunan Province in an area of outstanding natural beauty where mountains, water and blue skies prevail. ‘Fenghuang’ is Chinese for ‘Phoenix’, the mythical bird of good omen and longevity that is consumed by fire to be re-born again from the flames. Phoenix Ancient Town is so called as legend has it that two of these fabulous birds flew over it and found the Fenghuang Town so beautiful that they hovered there, reluctant to leave. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

A butcher in Huayin. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

The Mountain Road in the Tianmen National Park in Zhangjiajie was one of the most impressive roads we’ve ever travelled on. We took the tram up and unfortunately, you’re not allowed to walk along the road, so getting back down we took the bus. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

Zhangjiajie is famous for its 3,000 vertical pillars, each hundreds of feet tall and covered in dense green foliage. These pillars were formed by erosion and draw in upwards of 30 million tourists every year. Apart from the tourist masses, this place is absolutely stunning. No wonder it was the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie “Avatar.” © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

The hanging coffins are interesting no doubt, but the experiences we had with the local people, as well as the atmosphere and nature of the Luobiao area deserves just as much attention. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

The hanging coffins are really interesting, but what fascinated us even more was the atmosphere and feeling we had when wandering through the rice paddies, as well as the hospitality of the local people. We definitely left Luobiao with a big smile. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

Tuojiang river crossed right through the town of Fenghuang. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

Fenghuang Town is a wonderful example of what villages were like prior to the onset of modernisation. Here dozens of alleys paved with flagstones run between the houses, each showing wear caused by the feet of generations of local people who have used them when going about their daily business. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

Although Fenghuang is visited by thousands of tourists each day, the calm atmosphere somehow decelerates daily life. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

The hanging coffins of the Bo people in Luobiao, a Chinese ethnic minority, have puzzled historians for generations. Nailed into the cliffs high above the farmland, hundreds of wooden coffins keep silent watch over the valleys below. Over the years, several coffins have fallen down, but you get a good impression on how many must have once hung there by counting all the holes carved into the mountains. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

Luobiao is a destination not many tourists (neither Western nor Chinese) come to very often. Therefore it was one of those great travel experiences where we got to intimately interact with its local people. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

Market scene in Luobiao, China. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

Beautiful Fenghuang town in China. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER

The Bo tribe was exterminated in the days of the Ming Dynasty and these coffins are the only relict. It seems obvious that little now is known of them, who they were, or how they lived. © ULLI MAIER & NISA MAIER