I am going back in time a little here ... but I arranged to go visit the hometown of two students after my work was over in China. So after I finished work at the Yuexiu college and then went to the summer school for the 11 days I went to XiaoShan for 3 days and Xinchang for 5 days to visit with students. Both places are within Zhejiang Province and just a bus ride from Shaoxing where the Yuexiu College and the summer school was.
In XiaoShanI visited with YanWen (english name Samantha). We had become friends early in the semester through one of the student english clubs and she was a student of my colleague Dianne. A smart girl whose English is quite good mostly. She is very interested to see the world and so English learning was important to her. Unfortunately, this is contrary to what her mother wants for her. (a common dilemma here in China it seems) . So she was keen to have a foreigners point of view on how to get what she wanted. What can I say I did my best. I am sure YanWen will do what she needs to do to make it all happen. A very happy time there for a few days. Where Yan Wen lived was a little way from the city centre of XiaoShan but she arranged a hotel for me close by to her home, so this worked well and I was not left to find my own way or places to eat.
XiaoShan is close by to Hangzhou and one day we took the bus there for some sightseeing. We went to Wushan Square. A place close by to the West Lake (Hangzhou's most famous attraction). Many shops there of all sorts. Themed old town streets. But the highlite for me was this little store where this little old lady was doing silk cross-stitch pictures. And the detail was just amazing, using the finest silk thread. I dont know how she was able to see, she must have been 80. But she showed us this large item she said she had been working on a long long time. It was of a large tiger and maybe 2 metres x 600mm. The detail ws incredible. I wanted to buy it until she told me it was 3000RMB. I decided I could not fit it in my suitcase this time.
Here are some pic's of YanWen and the Wushen Square streets we went to .. hope you like.
In Xinchang, I visited with another student by the name of Xiao Xu. English name May. She was my student and we had become friends also early in the semster. It actually is not uncommon for the students to invite you to come to their hometowns (boys and girls). If you recall I went to Zhuji earlier in the semester with Shirley and Daisy. Another situation of visiting a hometown. And there were other invitations but it was not possible to go to them all.
Anyway Xinchang. A small city by Chinese standards and by this time the middle of summer, so freakin hot. And I am sure I was the only foreigner in the whole city. Not that that is a problem, but the locals did dwell when they stared.
Xiao Xu found me a good little hotel that was cheap but very functional, even had internet. She would come over early in the morning before it was to hot and we would venture out. Most of the sightseeing was done early morning and late afternoon/evening to avoid the heat. In the evenings there was literally thousands of people on the streets and in the parks to take advantage of the cool night air.
Xinchang's main claim to fame is a place called DaFo. The locals know that if you go very early in the morning, certain gates are open and you do not have to pay. So along went Mike, XiaoXu and her 3 friends (names ?).
It is like a big theme park but a real mixture of things. There were temples (of course), a garden type area that had replica dinosaurs, several amazing areas with stone grotto's with buddha's and the most amazing and largest female buddha in China. It was in a cave above the park that looked down over a small lagoon, steps carved from the stone up thru the hill and minded by buddist monks. All in all a very impressive place was DaFo.
Not a lot else happened in Xinchang. general sightseeing of things that are common in most Chinese cities. But one other thing that I did do .... One of XiaoXu's friends was involved in breeding Ostrich for meat. She took us to a restaurant one night for dinner and on the menu was the ostrich. I was a little apprehensive at first, but you know better to taste first? which I did and man, it was the most tender meat I had eaten in a long time. I would highly recommend it. I can't say that I know how it was prepared, but however they cooked it was superb. try it is you get the chance ...
So here are some pics of Xinchang. The Dafo park, including dinosaurs, and buddha's. And a real treat for you(if it has worked). The short video I made of the largest female buddha in China. .... enjoy
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