In Pictures: Deqin, China (just across the border from Tibet)

Tucked among the mountains in the northernmost reaches of China's Yunnan Province, Deqin county is home to 55,000 people, 80 percent of whom are Tibetan.  I entered Yunnan Province from Laos and traveled 38 hours by bus and train to reach Deqin (broken up by several overnight stops).  I would spend two nights here acclimating to the altitude before continuing on to the Tibetan capital Lhasa, which was still a week's journey away.

After checking into a hotel, I wandered to the city market and saw the things for sale and met some of the folks out shopping...

The next morning, anxious to engage culture, I locked myself in the hotel room and watched Chinese television.  Of course, I knew what was on: the final game of the NBA Championship (Lakers v. Pistons)...

Cultural education complete -- okay, I admit, I was feeling some culture shock in this very remote community, and the NBA offered some welcomed familiarity -- I set out on a long hike down the highway to catch a glimpse of Yunnan's highest peak, the 22,112-foot Mt. Kagebo.

I saw the mountian (but didn't get a publishable photo of it) and then stopped by Feilai Monastery.  I was impressed simply by the door, but the character of the people inside wasn't half bad either...

I read a bit of a book next to the lady below (she was knitting) and then began the several-mile hike back to Deqin.  The next morning, my appetite whetted by this visit, I would depart for Tibet...