Another number by a Taiwanese singer - I hope the communist party don't take it personal and mark me. My repertoire for Chinese numbers is very limited, I post what sounds good...lol !
It's end Winter early Spring. Ice was starting to thaw. Pleasant weather, a little chilly at times. Flowers and trees and bees can't wait to start a new life cycle. It's beautiful out...
Everywhere, they're replicating the allure of Japan's cherry blossoms which have drawn many millions of tourists. It's an important contributor to their economy and China is going all out to make it an important revenue source. Everywhere I go on these last 3 trips, I see the work they're putting in to beautify their surroundings with landscaped gardens and fairy lights and lanterns - most attractions are ticketed venues. Which explains too why China removed visa requirements from many countries.
Another source they're focusing on - pilgrimage tourism, chiefly Buddhism with some Taoism thrown in for good measure. Loads of Buddha and Kuan Yin images and some warrior images and good fortune dieties - as long as it draws the 'pilgrims' and they spend loads of moolah in the form of donations, hotel stays, tours and all the rest of it.
Their President Xi (the Emperor) has warned of the dangers associated with organised religions but that's confined to within the country and its people - the 'pilgrims' are foreign tourists not fulltime residents, so lure them in with more temples and statues...and let the money flow...
Mao Zedong had declared that 'religion is poison' so one can expect a Communist government to stick to their idealogy...but then, Communism and organised religions are cut from the same cloth...their 'God' is their Chairman, their 'holy book' is the quotations from him, memorised and quoted verbatim...
Spring has sprung it's beautiful in the parks if not a tad contrived...they 'copied' Singapore - lol !
Those beady eyes...!
The humans learned from Mother Nature - this tree bark peels away to reveal a camouflage look which has been copied by military forces everywhere - their combat uniforms, helmets, their vehicles, their face 'makeup' etc.
I came to Shanxi for this. The Yungang Grottoes. Fabulous. Reminds me a lot of the Ellora and Ajanta Caves in India (Post 111) which was more Hindu with Buddhist touches, awesome nontheless...
The ceiling art is fabulous - every inch from floor to ceiling had work done to it, it's a living museum, an art gallery and should be kept as such. I'm pleased to note the place has not been turned into a place of worship.
Over a period of more than a 1000years, various craftspeople worked on the images. The work and skill became finer, less rustic, the interpretations changed somewhat - the dressing, hairdos, facial features...
Ceiling art
Roof art...
The other place I came to see - the overhanging monastery on Mt Hengshan. I made sure visitors were allowed to enter the structure before I signed up for this trip. It's a tight space, cramped and narrow, they would have reinforced the structure to take in so many people at a time...
From a distance it's hard to spot the structure on the rock face as it's almost flat against the surface. As I got closer, I marvelled, as I always do, how ancient peoples everywhere could do what they've done without modern tools, in seemingly impossible conditions, turning out fabulous structures and artwork which stood the test of time. Mind you, it's not a piece of work done at a table but a dark cavern, a mountainside, a cliff face...
I gave thanks that I had the chance to check out these 2 must-see spots.
After these, the rest of the stops are by-the-way...
I enjoy train travel - from Taiyuan, Shanxi's capital city, the fast train to Beijing International airport, was at least 2 hours
Spent a day and night exploring Pingyao old town. Nearly every province has its old town but this one seems more authentic, but I saw improvements and extension work been done. It too will become a new 'old' town, for now, it's one of the better old heritage towns. Like!
What better way to remember the place by dressing the part!
The Dowager
Nice!
Grand entrances
What's authentic about Pingyao Ancient City, a UNESCO heritage site, are the carved doorways and window dressing, the wood is noticeably old and dried over time. They don't and can't carve these any more, the wood species may not be available any more or are protected. In tourist sites where extensive rebuilding/restoration work has taken place, some decorative features are clearly from a mould or are fiberglass...
Window dressing - in just one large building - a residence - the windows of the various rooms/halls are all different - beaut!
...and they lived happily ever after in the same home...which is more than what can be seen in the world of the humans...
This region is well known for the production of black vinegar. They have medicinal properties and are taken for maintenance of a healthy body. Some are fermented for 5-8 years. Smells good, the taste is robust, smooth...
The fermentation materials chiefly grains and seeds compressed into those 'bricks'
Design ideas and workmanship getting better and better. Whatever the world wants they'll produce it - be it Hindu dieties for the altars or any Islamic calligraphy wall hangings. There're farms cultivating truffles, pushing down the inflated European prices.
This ice cave is a huge freezer - a geopark. A coat was provided. Enjoyed the changing lighting, makes for some cool pics, no pun intended - it's a short walk around, too uncomfortably cold to stay in there for too long...
You'll get your daily 10k steps in China. It's not elder nor wheelchair friendly - hardly ramps anywhere nor lifts, public toilets for wheelchairs with seat toilets are very very few, although now, you might find 1 cubicle for wheelchair users - there will be more.
Every itinerary will have 1 spectacular waterfall, the Hukuo Falls is no exception...the powerful roar of the Yellow River is deafening you need to shout real loud to be heard...
It was the end of Ramadan the fasting month - sent Islamic New Year greetings to a few friends in SG..!
The excellent local guide, Han. Professional, attentive, - yeah thumbs up!
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Last word :
Sweet endings - at this resto the chef made this special dessert for the group. He proudly came out to show his special dough which produced the excellent noodles he had prepared for our lunch!
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Some pics came from Jenny and Theresa and other fellow travellers...
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