May 16, 2013 - Not many Europeans

Tian Zhong Hotel, Dengfeng Despite last night's horrible hotel I managed to get a really good night's sleep with the window wide open and no traffic noise (one of the advantages of overlooking a building site !). We set off across town. As we went into the country it became apparent this was a heavy industry area: coal mines, power plants, huge tractor manufacturing. Nothing small ! Our destination near Dengfeng, The White Horse Temple, was so called as a result of legend. It was the first Taoust temple in China and the original laquerware...

May 15, 2013 - Hotel to avoid

Guo Hao Business Hotel, Luoyang NO PHOTOS TODAY ! (although I was tempted) Why is it that after an overnight train, I seem to get truly awful hotels ? viz GuaHao Business Hotel, Luoyang. Prehaps it's lack of sleep that means I don't appreciate a bright red covered round bed with a fluffy cushion with LOVE written across it in white letters ? Nor the peeling wallpaper, rotted bathroom door, no air conditioning (fortunately its only 28 today), no fridge ? I could go on but I won't. The blessing is that it's one night only. I can't wait. This...

May 14, 2013 - Pingyao

Molly and I walked through the tourist streets (quiet at that time of the morning) to Ping'Yao city wall and climbed up at North East Gate. There are old gates at the four major points of the compass and a few more have been added since the original buldings. I think I've lost the plot in terms of Qing / Ming and inceasingly Tong so I'm not going to attempt to be accurate ! The wall is about 18' wide in places, narrower in others. The old city now "a protected site of tourist interest" enclosed, the new city of PingÝoa, wealthy and fordward...

May 13, 2013 - Red Lantern to Pingyao

Last night was very hot, very noisy and despite that I did manage to sleep a few hours. Taiyuan looks 'ok' this morning: not as prosperous as DaTong but friendy, busy and industrious. Lots of people using the equivalent of Boris's bikes, liveried in bright green and bright orange, Breakfast was a challenge. I shouldn't have asked for a cold plate, cold milk or tea, all of which caused a huge amount of hilarity, not to menton ingenuity: a waiter put a cup of hot milk in a bowl of cold water ..... not quite what I had in mind. The Twin...

May 12, 2013 - Wutai Mountain and Taiyuan

A wonderful night's sleep (9 hours) with the window open - mountain air ! Soon to be followed by a very hot day (33) in our ultimate destination. Four temples were the order of the morning to be followed by a Buddhist vegetarian lunch. Afternoon: one last temple then a three hour drive across more of the same as yesterday. There are 1000's of temples on Wutai Mountain. This is not actually one mountain but five peaks in the Wutai range and is one of the five sacred mountains in China. It is the least touristy (mostly Chinese) but that is...

May 11, 2013 - On to Wutai Mountain

Set off with Molly & Wao (driver) at 08:30 towards the mountains. For some bizarre reason I had to be insistent with Molly that I was going to sit in the front of the car. (Much later in the day, after asking me again if I wanted to sit in the back as long drive / sleep etc, she said Wao felt under pressure with me in the front ! As he speaks no English and I speak no Mandarin, I decided to ignore it. No way was I going to be driven watching the neck support of the seat in front - nor craning forward so I can see out - like Molly has to...

May 10, 2013 - DaTong

Bright sunshine streaming through the window was a good start to the day. What a pleasant change: no smog. A quick Chinese business men's breakfast, log on and off to meet Molly and the driver whose name always aludes me (unlike his looks !). A short drive out of town took us passed one of the coal mines (employing 10,000 - there are about 16 such deep mines, and larger, in the area) and to the Yungang Grottoes. This was first conceived and developed by a foresighted monk who was selected by the Emperor to build 'something' to impress the...

May 9, 2013 - Farewell Beijing

Photoless Day ! My last morning in Beijing. And no change in the skies. It didn't rain over night so the city was still coated in smog. Much cooler though - forecast was 24, starting around 20. This meant there was no point going to Jingshang Park to get the wide view of Beijng ! So, instead, trotted off to do some chores: get some money, go to the the Post Office (painting, photographic book from yesterday and all sorts of pamphlets maps etc). What then ? I didn't fancy going anywhere special, nor hanging around my local hutongs - none...

Jul 7, 2011 - 6 July - Datong

On Wednesday we had a long drive to Datong, arriving in the early evening. Datong dates back nearly 2500 years, though these days is a modern city of over one million people. As in the rest of China, many of the old buildings are being pulled down and replaced with huge skyscrapers. On Thursday we left early for one of the main attractions of the area, the UNESCO World Heritage Yungang Caves. These are 5th century AD Buddhist caves filled with around 50,000 statues, from towering 17m Buddhas to tiny little carvings tucked away in corners of...

Jun 8, 2011 - Dragon Boat Holiday

Iris has been off school for the last 3 days, Mon-Weds., for the Dragon Boat Holiday here in China. I've been told countless times what the festival celebrated, but I still don't really understand. Something about a guy jumping into a river and the festival is in his remembrance? Anyway, we went to the next providence over, the Shanxi Providence, which is different than the Shaanxi Providence that I live in now. They have different pronunciations supposedly, but my Americanness can't tell the difference other than the spelling. But in...

Oct 6, 2010 - Ping Yao Shanxi Province

Ping Yao Ancient City of China October 14, 2010 ladymaggic Leave a comment http://scenery.cultural-china.com/en/148Scenery78.html Ping Yao is an ancient city with a history of over 2700 years, located in the middle part of Shanxi Province, China. It is an outstanding example of a Han Chinese city of the Ming and Qing Dynasties with its city walls, streets, dwelling houses, shops and temples that have retained all the features to an exceptional degree. Also, many traditions are still preserved by the people living in Ping Yao. The ancient...

Oct 3, 2010 - Wutaishan Mountains Shanxi

Tayuan Temple ..Wutaishan October 3, 2010 http://sunrisetoday.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/tayuan-temple-wutaishan/ Tayuan TempleTaiyuan Temple The 75.3-meter-high (247-feet-high) Tayuan Temple is the symbol of Mt. Wutaishan. http://www.chinaholidays.com/guide/cities/wutaishan-travel.html The 50m high Tibetan styled White Pagoda, designed by a Nepali in 1301,has become a symbol of Wutai Shan. Itstands on the grounds of Tayuan Temple, also in Taihuai. A marketplace forms around it with vendors selling incense, prayer beads, Buddhistbooklets and...