Mystic Gan-Nan - 神 秘 甘 南

A Landscape Panoramas of Southern Gansu Province, China.    

Themes:  

This photography collection is about “Revelation and Mystery"- A contrasting play of light and shadow in colors. 

On the surface, light seems to reveal while darkness conceals. However, what the light reveals can be a camouflage, while what the darkness conceals can be of significance. 

"To reveal is therefore to conceal.


First 18 Bends of the Yellow River at Tang-Ke – Dawn on the hills                          
 唐克镇黄河九曲十八湾景区–山晓



First Bend of Yellow River at Tang-Ke Mystic Meadows and Shadowy Hills.     
唐克镇黄河九曲十八湾景区 – 云光山影



                      First 18 Bends of Yellow River at Tang-Ke  -  Sky Escalator.                            
唐克镇黄河九曲十八湾景区  天梯



                                                            Sang-Ke Prairie   Grazing by the Stream.                                                           
桑科草原   –  草原、溪流、牛群



Lotus Peaks Nature Reserve – Lotus Bud Peaks under the hovering Clouds.                  
 莲宝叶则景区   云峰朵朵




Lotus Peaks Nature Reserve – Lake of “Purity” in the shadowy mountain     

莲宝叶则景区–山影中的扎尕尔措:圣洁白湖




 Lang-Mu-Si Monastery - Heaven and Earth
郎木寺藏村 - 天上人间



                                                                     Zhagana Tibetan Village - Outpost                                                                      
扎尕那藏村 - 天外人家



Lanzhou Iron Bridge and Pagoda Hill  -  Bridging between Era 
兰州市中山桥与白塔山景区 夕阳艳透华灯明、一边古韵一边潮



Lanzhou Iron Bridge and Pagoda Hill  - The Iron Bridge lighted up in Red
兰州市中山桥与白塔山景区  -  铁桥燃亮“中国红”



Mystic Gan-Nan in Landscape Panoramas:  

Background:  

Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gan-Nan is located in the southwest of Gansu in NW China. This region is characterized by vast grasslands, long stretches undulating green hills, ancient Tibetan villages and monumental monastery. It also contains less typical attractions like rocky mountain peaks, highland lakes and misty waterfalls.


This is a region rich in ancient and modern Chinese history. The state of Qin originated in southeastern Gansu and went on to form the first known Empire of China. And the route of the historical Long March by the Chinese Red Army of Modern China cut through this region, leaving behind many heroic memories and legends.


Contents:  

This is a panoramas landscape collection that has captured some of the characteristics of the landscape in major tourist destinations of Gan-Nan region during the summer season.

The characters of the landscape are wide ranging, including the soft gentleness of the grand prairie, the raw ruggedness of the sharp pointed rocky mountain peaks, the grand solemnity of the academy of Tibetan Buddhism, and the odd inspiring serenity of the ancient villages. One will be impressed by their sheer spatial vastness, grandiose of scale, richness in forms, colors and cultures.


Trip conditions and Equipment:  

The tour was scheduled in the month of July 2021. It was a group tour, the kind that was not meant specifically for landscape photography taking. As such, the shots were taken by improvising and adapting on the spot and under whatever lighting condition.

The equipment used: Camera-Canon 6 D, Lens-F16-35 and F70-200, one portable stand and some ND filters.




Narratives:

唐克镇黄河九曲十八湾景区 –  山晓
First 18 Bends of the Yellow River at Tang-Ke – Dawn on the hills
At first glance, the prairie at the First Bends of the Yellow River looks rather flat and featureless. Not until a ray of morning light illuminated the distant mountain ranges (while still keeping the hill located closer to the river in shadow), does the landscape suddenly turns magically alive, transforming itself into a grand canvas of “revelation and mystery".

唐克镇黄河九曲十八湾景区 – 云光山影
First Bend Of Yellow River at Tang-Ke  – Mystic Meadows and Shadowy Hills
The Yellow River is like a silver ribbon simmering in the dimly lit atmosphere at dawn as it winds through the prairie. A ray of strong light breaks through the darkness, illuminating the distant hills and the surrounding grassland into sparkling gold. The mystery in the shadow quietly dispersed as the prairie wakens.

唐克镇黄河九曲十八湾景区  -  天梯
First 18 Bends of Yellow River at Tang-Ke  -  Sky Escalator.
Long escalator ramps its way up the green hill, resembled the scene of The Great Wall of China. Its hard diagonal form is in rhythmic contrast to the soft flowy contour of the surrounding landscape. And its zigzag staggering line is meant to rival the curvilinear bends of the Yellow River.


桑科草原  –  草原、溪流、牛群
Sang-Ke Prairie  Grazing by the Stream 

In summer, the prairie dresses up in a sea of green carpet that extents far to the distant hills. Shallow stream winds its way through it. Myriads of wildflowers blossom and countless yaks graze by the water. 


莲宝叶则景区   云峰朵朵
Lotus Peaks Nature Reserve – Lotus Bud Peaks under the hovering Clouds.

A secret highland retreat hidden at 4600+ feet AMSL. There is a mystical feel about the shape of the mountain peaks in this place; they rise up from the ground in unison like bundle of lotus buds. In a windy and cloudy day, the place does resemble the mountainous scenes from the movie – The Ring. 


莲宝叶则景区 – 山影中的扎尕尔措:圣洁白湖
Lotus Peaks Nature Reserve – Lake of “Purity” in the shadowy mountain.

At certain precise moment, the blue sky with its pure white clouds will be reflected on the calm water surface of the lake - A moment where heaven and earth become one.  After that, the shadows of the surrounding mountain will quietly cast over the lake likes an enveloping giant dark veil.



郎木寺藏村 - 天上人间

Langmusi Monastery - Heaven and Earth

Langmusi is one of the most important centre for studying and practicing Tibetan Buddhism. The place is characterized by its morning mist, burning smoke, golden temple roofs and chanting monk scholars.



扎尕那藏村 - 天外人家
Zhagana Tibetan Village - Forgotten Outpost 

The word ‘Zhagana” means rock container (石盒子) it refers to the Tibetan villages, which are located deep inside the Rocky Mountains, so remote that they are hardly accessible to the outside world and therefore remained isolated for centuries. Its remote destination and raw natural form have now become huge attraction for tourism.



兰州市中山桥与白塔山景区 – 夕阳艳透华灯明、一边古韵一边潮
Lanzhou Iron Bridge and Pagoda Hill  -  Bridging between Era
It damns on me only when I reach my camera position underneath the Iron Bridge that the hidden order of Pagoda Hill becomes clear – the bridge is conceived as the space-time connector linking 2 worlds of different era into an integrated whole: on the right side of the bridge is a romantic world of traditional aesthetics and on the left, a modern world of vibrant commercialism. 


兰州市中山桥与白塔山景区  -  铁桥燃亮“中国红”
Lanzhou Iron Bridge and Pagoda Hill - The Iron Bridge lighted up in Red
The historical bridge was built by the German using imported wrought iron near the end of the Qing Dynasty. Its 200m long and 6-7m wide structure spanned across the Yellow River that flowed through the city of Lan-Zhou. The red army had marched through it during their historical Long March. This is the reason for lighting it up in“China-Red” color.



JS  。 Photography
July 2021

Canon 6D  . 16-35mm/F4  .  70-200mm/F2.8

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