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I left Nepal bound for the Kingdom of Bhutan. Fresh air assailed my nostrils as soon as I stepped off the plane. I was instantly amazed by the scene around me： blue sky， green mountains and grassland， and red flowers. “It is Shangri-la on the Pamir Plateau！” I could not help but exclaim.
As we drove through the narrow， long valley of Thimphu， the capital， I marveled at blocks of buildings stretching halfway of the hills like rustic rural inns.
Bhutan is a Buddhist country. Wherever residences are found， temples and pagodas are sure to be nearby. I decided that the country features “three abundances” and“three deficiencies” after my visit.
The “three abundances” refers to lofty mountains and deep valleys， temples and pagodas with prayer flags and burning incense and the many lamas who can become a monk at young age and then choose to return to secular life in adulthood or remain a monk for life. The burgundy robes of monks appear striking against the blue sky and white clouds as they walk with prayer wheels in-hand.
The “three deficiencies” refers to flatland， population， and air pollution. Arable land accounts for only 16 percent of the country’s total area. Bhutan’s population of 700，000 is equivalent to that of just the county of Ninghai in China’s Zhejiang Province. Foreign visitor flow is strictly controlled： The annual total is kept under 30，000， 70 percent of whom hail from China. Bhutan is not big enough to accommodate more tourists. The country enjoys a lack of pollution because of its lack of factories. Agriculture serves as its major industry， including harvests of rice， wheat， and corn. Bhutan takes pride in its green coverage： 72 percent， including sal trees， oaks， pines， firs and spruces.
These features have made the country an attractive destination for travelers from around the world.
My first stop was a newly-established tourist attraction in Thimphu. I was awed by a giant bronze 169-meter-tall statue of Sakyamuni there. It was produced by a Chinese company in Nanjing. Halfway up the hillside was a magnificent square for Buddhist statues and Bodhi trees. We were lucky to become the inaugural group of visitors to experience the attraction and were deeply impressed.
We then visited the national monument， a pagoda erected specifically for world peace. Every day it draws numerous Buddhists， especially locals， who circumambulate around the pagoda， praying. Many locals believe it is the best way to receive heavenly favor and wash away wrongdoings. The endless streams of devotees complement the dancing wind chimes to complete the pagoda’s amazing scene.
Our trip to suburban Thimphu was a difficult trek around canyons with sheer cliffs， 3，000 meters above sea level. As our wheels rolled along the mountain road， we pondered how the locals had managed to build the path through such steep mountains. I could hardly imagine construction of the temples against such precipitous peaks. “Faith！” I decided. “When there is a will， there is a way.”
As we drove through the narrow， long valley of Thimphu， the capital， I marveled at blocks of buildings stretching halfway of the hills like rustic rural inns.
Bhutan is a Buddhist country. Wherever residences are found， temples and pagodas are sure to be nearby. I decided that the country features “three abundances” and“three deficiencies” after my visit.
The “three abundances” refers to lofty mountains and deep valleys， temples and pagodas with prayer flags and burning incense and the many lamas who can become a monk at young age and then choose to return to secular life in adulthood or remain a monk for life. The burgundy robes of monks appear striking against the blue sky and white clouds as they walk with prayer wheels in-hand.
The “three deficiencies” refers to flatland， population， and air pollution. Arable land accounts for only 16 percent of the country’s total area. Bhutan’s population of 700，000 is equivalent to that of just the county of Ninghai in China’s Zhejiang Province. Foreign visitor flow is strictly controlled： The annual total is kept under 30，000， 70 percent of whom hail from China. Bhutan is not big enough to accommodate more tourists. The country enjoys a lack of pollution because of its lack of factories. Agriculture serves as its major industry， including harvests of rice， wheat， and corn. Bhutan takes pride in its green coverage： 72 percent， including sal trees， oaks， pines， firs and spruces.
These features have made the country an attractive destination for travelers from around the world.
My first stop was a newly-established tourist attraction in Thimphu. I was awed by a giant bronze 169-meter-tall statue of Sakyamuni there. It was produced by a Chinese company in Nanjing. Halfway up the hillside was a magnificent square for Buddhist statues and Bodhi trees. We were lucky to become the inaugural group of visitors to experience the attraction and were deeply impressed.
We then visited the national monument， a pagoda erected specifically for world peace. Every day it draws numerous Buddhists， especially locals， who circumambulate around the pagoda， praying. Many locals believe it is the best way to receive heavenly favor and wash away wrongdoings. The endless streams of devotees complement the dancing wind chimes to complete the pagoda’s amazing scene.
Our trip to suburban Thimphu was a difficult trek around canyons with sheer cliffs， 3，000 meters above sea level. As our wheels rolled along the mountain road， we pondered how the locals had managed to build the path through such steep mountains. I could hardly imagine construction of the temples against such precipitous peaks. “Faith！” I decided. “When there is a will， there is a way.”