A China Travel Blog

Welcome to “A Slice of Sichuan,” a China Travel Blog. Thanks for visiting.

As a freelance writer in Reno, I never dreamed I’d be blogging about a trip to China, but here I am, writing about my experiences and spreading the news about the health and well-being of the Sichuan Province.

Sichuan didn’t fall off the face of the earth and it IS safe to visit, I can attest.

On May 12, 2008, an earthquake registering 8.5 on the Richter Scale hit 50 miles west-northwest of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province. More than 69,000 people lost their lives, more than 374,000 were injured and 4.8 million became homeless.

Since the tragedy, Sichuan has been rebuilding, repairing and revitalizing the province. As for tourism, restoration began soon after the quake.

In November 2008, tourism officials from California, Miami and Arkansas, and from the U.S. Travel Association met in Sichuan for an International Forum for Tourism Recovery After a Disaster, and a plan was implemented. 

In 2009, domestic tourists to the China province returned to numbers that surpassed those in 2007, according to a tourism administrator for Sichuan. However, only half the number of the foreign travelers returned.

But that’s a story for another day.

I traveled with Yan Liao of First Sino-US, world-renowned photographer Nik Wheeler and Alex FengLun, a guide from China Travel Service.

As for me, my name is David Strege. I’m a professional writer — and longtime newspaper reporter — currently freelancing in my hometown of Reno, Nevada.

I’ll be posting a slice of what I saw and experienced in Sichuan, China and in the order I saw it — from giant panda bears and wild monkeys, to career ear-cleaners, a human taxi, duck soup and a Rushmore-sized Buddha (and more).

Tag along with me on my China Travel Blog and enjoy the ride!