thawaio.a personal journal
thawaio.
A wide stone avenue lined with white elephant statues carrying golden saddlecloths and wheels, with patches of snow, dark conifers and a sea of white cloud stretching to a pale horizon under a blue sky.

Journeys · 3 parts

China, 2009–2010

Where
Chongqing, Chengdu, Leshan and Mount Emei, China
Travelled
Late December 2009 – early January 2010
Written up
October 2026
Parts
3

Start from part one: My first days in Chongqing →

The stories, in order

  1. Part 1 · Christmas 2009 · Chongqing

    My first days in Chongqing

    Christmas in Chongqing, unfamiliar streets, a language barrier and a small act of honesty that stayed with me.

    3 min read

  2. Part 2 · Winter 2009–10 · Leshan

    The Giant Buddha of Leshan

    Revisiting the enormous Buddha at Leshan, where old photographs preserve much of what I can no longer remember.

    2 min read

  3. Part 3 · Winter 2009–10 · Mount Emei

    Above the clouds at Mount Emei

    Green tea, my first sight of snow, a spectacular cable car ride and a breathtaking view above the clouds.

    3 min read