Gems In My City

In the past few months, I have traveled to Shanghai (several times), Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshou and Tian Tao Village. However, we haven't had much time to explore the area around Hangzhou. I never realized how lucky I was to be living in such a beautiful city. Everyone we met on our travels always said: "Ohhh, Hangzhou. Very beautiful!" And it's true - I can see why this is the Gem of China! 

West Lake in Hangzhou at sunset 

Spending last week with some faculty that came from River Falls to do a program visit, we were able to show them around our city. It was very gratifying to be able to show adults around a foreign place. It made me realize even more that Hangzhou is my home.
After that, we went on a program day to the Tea and Silk Museums that are very famous in Hangzhou. At the Tea Museum, we were able to walk through the rows of tea and pick the rip leaves used to make Longsheng Green Tea. 

Katie and I in the tea fields

On Easter Sunday, our program supervisor treated us by taking us to an Eco-Farm to pick strawberries, cherries and cucumbers. After spending an hour walking around greenhouse after greenhouse of vegetables and fruit, we walked to a park to have a cookout. Even though I couldn't spend Easter with my family back at home, I got to spend it with my fellow Experience China participants. So basically; my family away from home(:
 

100% better than American strawberries! 

It was definitely one of my favorite Easters - being surrounded by friends, love and Chinese food!

This past weekend, we decided to take a bus to another famous spot in Hangzhou. Lingyin Temple is considered a must see spot for all visitors and we decided to be tourists for the day and go visit this place. Thousand year old mountain carvings lined a small mountain that led to the actual temple. Words can’t describe what was there,…even the pictures don’t do it justice! Everything was so beautiful and majestic. Hundreds of statues lined temples, massive Buddha statues loomed in four story tall buildings and Monks quietly praying and walking through the park.
 

Temple wall lined with statues made of bronze 

 

Without a doubt, I am glad to call Hangzhou my home! I am sad to be leaving so shortly – however, I am glad to have had the change to live here for three months. This next weekend is May Break and instead of traveling somewhere else in China, I decided to stay home and see parts of this 9 million person city. Every street has adventure and I want to explore it as much as possible. Let no gem be hidden!

Bye for now, I will write again shortly.

In the meantime, go adventuring!

Ty

"To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken fro granted." - Bill Bryson

Mountain Carving 

To the South of China!

I'd like to first start off by saying that all I want right now is: Easter Candy!! If I could have any wish granted right now, it would be for (Lorena says, "Hi!") Jelly Beans, Recess Peanut Butter Eggs, Sixtlets,...anything! But in all seriousness, I am sad I won't be home for Easter - especially since all I want is (of course) candy, ham, tuna salad, cheese and anything else American related. It's times like these that really make you miss your home nation's traditions.

Village along a river leading to the mountain base

But on a lighter note, things have been great here in China as usual. Last week, we went to the Guilin area for our Rice Terracing course taught by one of our UWRF professors. Taking a sleeper train, we embarked on a 18 hour ride to the South of China. The city lights from home eventually faded into flat farm fields which gradually turned into mist covered mountains. Once arriving in Guilin, we took a three hour bus ride to a base halfway up a mountain. The whole feeling of "mountains on one side and a cliff on the other" was basically the theme of the whole ride. Good thing the driver was texting and driving, eh?

Walking to our village

After safely arriving at the base, we hiked up the mountain to Tian Tao Village. Magical, Majestic and Mighty. Looking out over the valley, I saw mountain after mountain looming far off in the distance with rice terraces covering the smaller hills below me. We stayed in the village for three days collecting data, observing and hiking among the terraces. They were insanely beautiful and it is so hard to imagine that people created these over 1000 years ago. Often, we saw horses running up and down the mountains, cows and water buffalo munching on weeds and snakes and salamanders slithering around under our feet. Even though it was beautiful, there was a large sense of tourism as this village was (as it seemed) a gathering place for the French, Germans and Spaniards. Interestingly enough they all spoke English and we got to converse with them as well as some of the locals.

The view from my window - the mountains in the distance were twice the height you see

Walking back down to the halfway base point, the same driving/texting driver picked us up and we headed down the switchback filled mountain. Adding to the excitement, it rained the night before resulting in, well, an interesting ride down. Usually signs in China aren't always correct but: Watch For Falling Rocks was spot on. I'm surprised the driver dude wasn't texting while going around the pile - good thing, though, because the left side of the van was skimming the edge of a 100 foot drop off. It was one of those: "I'mmmm...just going to close my eyes now" moments.

After four hours of exciting driving, we arrived in Yangshuo, a river city about an hour south of Guilin. There, we got to see the iconic karsts that are legendary to China. Almost any movie that features China usually has a scene that is focused on these mountains; and I can see why!

Moon Hill - we climbed it sat under the arch!

Farm fields with karsts in the background

The highlight of this trip would have be a river boat ride we took up and down a portion of the Li River. We got to ride sketchy rafts and saw the scene on the back of the twenty Yuan bill. This was my favorite part of the whole trip and I want to go back! We also went to a cave to go 'mud swimming' which entailed jumping around in a mud pit. It reminded me of the time I lost my shoe in a cow manure pit - but this time I was all for jumping in fully. After getting all muddy, we jumped into a hot spring that was fed naturally through hot springs filtered through the rocks. The mud and water were filled with minerals that made our skin feel amazing! I didn't dare bring my camera in with me - and it was a good thing because it would have died most likely.

We ended out trip by accidently missing our train back to Hangzhou and had to fly back home after several attempts to get a new train. Even though we lost out on money, I still wouldn't have given up the experience!
This was one of my favorite trips and as I look back at these pictures, I get a sense of accomplishment and gratitude! China is amazing!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post! It has been a long and jam-packed month. Sending love to everyone at home and I hope your Easter was Blessed with family and of course food. (candy!!)

Ty

Found this while climbing up Moon Hill. Foot(e) anyone?