Sadly, I Can’t Visit This Ancient Capital With the Most Beautiful Cherry Blossoms This Year
From Guiyang to Wuhan to Wuxi, my social feed has been flooded with cherry blossoms lately. It inevitably brought me back to this time last year, when I ended up stranded in Japan...
Kyoto by the Forest: Not Just Woodsy Aromas, but Sweet Delights Too
Ride the train north from Kyoto, and little by little the city falls away, replaced by towering mountains and dense forests. Along the way are the colorful scenery of Saga-Arashiya...
Bamboo Kyoto: Life in Kyoto Without Bamboo Is Unthinkable
After we visited Uji, where the air is filled with the fragrance of matcha, our second stop on our Kyoto-area trip is to head to the “竹之里 · 乙訓” area in Bamboo Kyoto and check it ou...
Tea Kyoto: In Uji, Searching for the Taste of Matcha
Kyoto, the spiritual home of Japan, is also one of travelers’ top destinations. Kiyomizu-dera, Nijo Castle, and Arashiyama are all familiar names, but Kyoto’s appeal goes far beyon...
Visiting Moscow Without Seeing the Seven Sisters?
What? You came to Moscow and only visited Red Square and the Kremlin, but never saw the Seven Sisters? Then you really should come back again....
An Art Palace Beneath Moscow!
With more than 200 richly decorated metro stations in Moscow, even a full day only gives you time to rush through a small selection of these masterpieces. If I get the chance to vi...
Ride the Train to Moscow Like in “Jiong Ma”
The film “Jiong Ma,” released on the first day of Lunar New Year, reignited interest in a legendary train that has been running for 60 years. I fondly remember riding this green gi...
Lake Baikal Trip Guide: Route, Transport, Accommodation, Food, and Gears
I’ve finished my summer travel notes on Lake Baikal, so it’s time to move on to Moscow. These are some quick tips from the Baikal region. If you’re going there sometime, be sure to...
By Lake Baikal, a Vast Sea of Stars Lies Ahead
At last, it’s time to set off for Lake Baikal....
Vlog: A Blue Encounter in Siberia — Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal, the blue eye of Siberia. The summer breeze there is intoxicating, and the grass is still lush and green. I still can't forget that stretch of blue seen from the window...
From Mongolia to Russia
Leaving Ulaanbaatar, I boarded an RZD train heading north to continue my summer Siberian rail journey....