Don't worry, it's not the rapture. That's just the Gaoligong Mountain range. NBD.

We read a lot about travel over the course of one week and, after much sifting and sorting, we've rounded up a few of our favorites. From news and reviews to great blog posts, unusual destinations and travel stories, read on for our picks. >>>

The Gaoligong Mountains (Gāolí​gòng ​Shān, 高黎贡山) are beautiful. The landscape is awe-inspiring, the sunshine strong and the paths rugged. Located in the far west of Yunnan, the mountain range stretches towards the border with Burma (or Myanmar, depending on who you ask), the stone and forest folding like an old rug askew.

Ancient paths wind through these mountains. Though most are rarely used today the ingenious web of rock hewn paths and ox-cart roads can still be seen stretching across mountain passes and across hillsides. One of these roads known as the Ambassador Pass was used most recently by British diplomats regularly traveling between colonial Burma and China in the 19th century. Today it is used almost exclusively by locals traveling short distances and rare is the traveler who ventures along its entirety.

But venture some do! This article on hiking the loneliest road in China is excellently written and exceedingly interesting. Coupled with a series of fantastic pictures, it's a great read and will help kick your week off on the right foot. The author followed a local guide for about 200 km (124 mi) from Yǒngpíng (永平) to Téngchōng (腾冲), and from the looks of it, had a fantastic time. Read on after the jump for more China Travel links...

• Most foreigners who travel to Hong Kong will visit, or at least consider visiting, Macau. With gambling, delicious Portuguese food and a black sand beach, it's a heckuva place. One thing most don't consider is that Chinese citizens cannot visit Macau, a region governed much like Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) with its own immigration policies (there are, of course, loopholes and a large portion of Macau's residents are Mainland born. But as a general rule, Mainland citizens are not allowed to travel to Macau).
• The Tibetan people endure. Though each day their way of life becomes more and more antiquated, the toughness of the Tibetan spirit and their ability to sustain communities in the face of some of the harshest climates on the planet is simply astonishing. The nomads of the Tibetan plateau are perhaps some of the most mythical seeming peoples that remain in China today; they ride the grasslands like wraiths, elusive and ever becoming more so.
• The minority peoples of China are diverse and scattered across this huge country. The Qiang people reside mostly in northern Sichuan, in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. This article from GoChengdoo, about the Qiang culture, is illuminating and entertaining.
• Here's one man's tale of traveling to Taiwan for the holidays. This link is for the second part of a three part series—make sure to check them all out.
• If you're in Jianshui and looking for something to do, make sure you don't miss the Zhu Family Garden. The complex is a testament to the Qing-era family's skill at profiting from trade, and stands today as an indication of the opulence the wealthy enjoyed even many centuries ago.
• Moving to Chengdu? Well, then you're probably going to want to check out these tips for adjusting to life in Chengdu. Written by a Chengdu resident and posted on arguably the best Chengdu-related website out there, it's an indispensable resource for China-newcomers. Also, if you're moving to Chengdu, do yourself a favor and join Chengdu Living's forum.

Until we meet again next week, happy travels!

Photo courtesy of boy_fromOz

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