JIAJU, China - In 2005, the National Geographic China magazine named this ethnic Tibetan village in western Sichuan province, sprawled over a valley amid snow-capped mountains, China’s most beautiful. Depending on how you look at it, that distinction was either a blessing or a curse…

“These cultures are unique, and an invasion of different cultures will destroy them. Furthermore, with an increasing number of tourists pouring into minority regions, the local governments commercialize the cultures, and even religious practices are changed.”

His plan had been to rally traditionalists to his banner in Siberia, overthrow the Marxists and place the Grand Duke Michael on the throne as Tsar of Russia (he did not know the Grand Duke was already dead). That plan was dashed and while on his way to take refuge in Tibet a group of his soldiers mutinied but did not kill him. He was captured by the Soviets whose propaganda had portrayed him as the most vile criminal imaginable and after a show-trial he was executed on September 15, 1921.

An interesting 2008 interview with Thierry Vanroy of the Flemish Nationalist Student Movement (NSV)

South Korean Special Forces (dubbed ‘Iron Men’ during the Vietnam War) frolic in the snow during winter exercises. Very strange… apparently this is a yearly ritual with them.

A nice pictorial displaying the 56 ethnic groups of China wearing their national costumes.