Now it's time to get back to normal for a little over a week until the May holiday comes around. The trip to Xi'an was nice and tomorrow morning the boys are flying back to Finland and I'll see Matti in the end of July for the next time. The hostel in Xi'an was really nice but Xi'an, as a city, seemed extremely touristy. When we arrived to Xi'an the difference between the outside of the city walls and inside was huge. Outside the city walls on our way from the airport we saw a lot of buildings torn down and it seemed we were going through a not so good area of the city. The inside of the walls was filled with high end Western brands and fast food restaurants and expensive looking hotels, shops and malls. Of course the whole inside is not like that, but at least the very center is.
Our hostel on the other hand, was really nice and comfortable. It was close to the South Gate of the City Wall and facing the wall. When we arrived there had been some problem with the rooms we had reserved and we slept in a 6 bed dorm room just the four of us. But the next nights we got our double rooms and we were surprised to see that our double rooms had their own shower and toilet, although we thought we would have shared ones. Both of the rooms were really nice and the hostel was really comfy with courtyards with sitting areas and a small restaurant downstairs and a bar in the basement.
I have midterm exams from Chinese on Tuesday and two exams on Wednesday, and also on Tuesday I have to turn in a 10 page term paper for my business course. But after that, it's almost time for the May holiday. We have Friday off from school, but we have school on Sunday to make up for the Monday, so our week long holiday starts on Monday. I can't understand, why we don't have school on Friday and start our holiday on Saturday, but maybe this is a Chinese thing. :) Anyways, on my May holiday I'll be going to Hongkong, Macau and Malesia! Can't wait!!!
April 19, 2009
18.04.09 Being a tourist in Xi'an
We started the day with Matti by looking around for a bus stop where we could get the bus to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. We found the bus stop finally and took the bus to the pagoda. There was some park area surrounding the temple area and the pagoda was in the center of everything. We walked around the area and it was nice and pretty, the flowers and other plants especially. On the north side of the temple area there was a big fountain area, and it seemed they did a fountain show there every once in a while where they played some music and the fountains were on. We saw the end of the show and it looked ok, lots of water at least. :)
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda
When we got back inside the city walls, we walked to the East Gate (the way there seemed really long) and got up on the City Wall of Xi'an. The wall is really wide and it surrounded the old city of Xi'an. Nowadays, of course, the city has spread behind the walls. We looked around the wall for a while and then took a small electric bus on the wall from the East gate to the South Gate, where our hostel is.
The City Wall
When we were at the wall it started to rain a little and during the evening the rain just got worse. Since it was the last night, we still went outside, took few pictures of the Bell and Drum Tower of Xi'an, and then headed for the Muslim Quarter. There was all kinds of little shops with tourist things, dried fruits etc and restaurants on the streets. And also lots of street sellers. We got some evening snack from there and went back to the hostel to get ready for tomorrow's trip back to Beijing.
The City Wall
The Big Wild Goose PagodaWhen we got back inside the city walls, we walked to the East Gate (the way there seemed really long) and got up on the City Wall of Xi'an. The wall is really wide and it surrounded the old city of Xi'an. Nowadays, of course, the city has spread behind the walls. We looked around the wall for a while and then took a small electric bus on the wall from the East gate to the South Gate, where our hostel is.
The City WallWhen we were at the wall it started to rain a little and during the evening the rain just got worse. Since it was the last night, we still went outside, took few pictures of the Bell and Drum Tower of Xi'an, and then headed for the Muslim Quarter. There was all kinds of little shops with tourist things, dried fruits etc and restaurants on the streets. And also lots of street sellers. We got some evening snack from there and went back to the hostel to get ready for tomorrow's trip back to Beijing.
The City Wall
17.04.09 Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
Yesterday I flew from Beijing to Xi'an with the guys in the late afternoon, and today it was time to go and see the Terracotta Warriors. We took a tour from our hostel, that included the ride there and back, and a tour guide. The tour started with a stop in a factory that makes Terracotta Warrior replicas the same way the actual warriors were made. We got a quick tour around where they told some things about the making of the statues.
Chariot
We stopped by for lunch before the actual warriors and reached them a little after noon. The site has three different pits where warriors have been found, and they are still looking for more. The pits are covered with halls to prevent rain and sun from destroying the statues even more. Besides the actual excavation pits and warriors, they also have a place where the half size replicas of the two chariots that have been found are. The guide told us that only two chariots (horse carriages) have been found, and there should be a total of 81 of them, so 79 are still somewhere underground.
Warriors
During our tour we also visited a building where you could see a short movie, that told a story of the warriors. The movie told us that the emperor who ordered the warriors to be made, wanted his army to protect his rule also in the afterlife and that's why he had the Terracotta Warriors made according to his army (so every warrior looks different). The Warriors were buried close to the tomb where the emperor was later buried. In the same building we also saw the 80 year old farmer who found the first warriors. I guess his job nowadays is to sit behind a desk, but it's not allowed to take pictures of him.
The Warriors were definitely worth a visit and the tour guide was nice. Probably the most amazing thing in the warriors is the fact that they were made and that they are still in pretty good condition despite their age. The other is, of course, the fact that there's no way of knowing how many warriors are still underground, and also the amount that has already been discovered is just unbelievable.
Dumpling Party
In the evening there was a dumpling party in the hostel and we were able to make dumplings on our own. The cooks showed us how to make them and then we practiced doing them. In the end we got to eat them and they were pretty good. The hostel had a really good sauce for the dumplings which made them better than normal.
ChariotWe stopped by for lunch before the actual warriors and reached them a little after noon. The site has three different pits where warriors have been found, and they are still looking for more. The pits are covered with halls to prevent rain and sun from destroying the statues even more. Besides the actual excavation pits and warriors, they also have a place where the half size replicas of the two chariots that have been found are. The guide told us that only two chariots (horse carriages) have been found, and there should be a total of 81 of them, so 79 are still somewhere underground.
WarriorsDuring our tour we also visited a building where you could see a short movie, that told a story of the warriors. The movie told us that the emperor who ordered the warriors to be made, wanted his army to protect his rule also in the afterlife and that's why he had the Terracotta Warriors made according to his army (so every warrior looks different). The Warriors were buried close to the tomb where the emperor was later buried. In the same building we also saw the 80 year old farmer who found the first warriors. I guess his job nowadays is to sit behind a desk, but it's not allowed to take pictures of him.
The Warriors were definitely worth a visit and the tour guide was nice. Probably the most amazing thing in the warriors is the fact that they were made and that they are still in pretty good condition despite their age. The other is, of course, the fact that there's no way of knowing how many warriors are still underground, and also the amount that has already been discovered is just unbelievable.
Dumpling PartyIn the evening there was a dumpling party in the hostel and we were able to make dumplings on our own. The cooks showed us how to make them and then we practiced doing them. In the end we got to eat them and they were pretty good. The hostel had a really good sauce for the dumplings which made them better than normal.
April 17, 2009
15.04.09 Jingshan Park
After I got out of Chinese class, we went to the Jingshan Park with Matti. The south gate of the park is right on the other side of the street from the north gate of the Forbidden City. The park has an artificial hill in the middle and few pagodas on the hill. The biggest pagoda being, of course, on the top. The view from the hill was really nice and the weather was also good. We walked up and down the hill, and got some nice pictures. You could see Beijing and especially the Forbidden City from there really nicely.
The South Gate of Jingshan Park
After the park we headed north from there to a hutong street filled with everything a tourist could need, and met Santtu there. Despite the touristy place, we found a massage place and got a pedicure and foot massage with Matti and Santtu. The best 8 euros ever spent :) The only not so nice thing with the treatment was the end. Because when I thought the massage was over and was pretty satisfied with it, the woman whipped out two cups and put them on the bottom of my feet.
View from the top
The treatment is called cupping and I've heard they do it on your back, but for the feet! In cupping, you have these ball shaped cups, alcohol or something is sprayed inside and the alcohol is light up, and the ball is placed on your skin. The lighting up creates a vacuum and the cup sucks into your skin. On the bottom of the feet, at least, it feels quite interesting and they tried to sell me a cupping treatment also for the back, because my neck, as they said it, is no good. This time I didn't want it, and I'm not quite sure I'm ready to do it any other time. The felt very interesting on the feet and I'm afraid that I'd faint or something if they put the cups on my back. But the foot massage was really good, despite the cups. :)
The South Gate of Jingshan ParkAfter the park we headed north from there to a hutong street filled with everything a tourist could need, and met Santtu there. Despite the touristy place, we found a massage place and got a pedicure and foot massage with Matti and Santtu. The best 8 euros ever spent :) The only not so nice thing with the treatment was the end. Because when I thought the massage was over and was pretty satisfied with it, the woman whipped out two cups and put them on the bottom of my feet.
View from the topThe treatment is called cupping and I've heard they do it on your back, but for the feet! In cupping, you have these ball shaped cups, alcohol or something is sprayed inside and the alcohol is light up, and the ball is placed on your skin. The lighting up creates a vacuum and the cup sucks into your skin. On the bottom of the feet, at least, it feels quite interesting and they tried to sell me a cupping treatment also for the back, because my neck, as they said it, is no good. This time I didn't want it, and I'm not quite sure I'm ready to do it any other time. The felt very interesting on the feet and I'm afraid that I'd faint or something if they put the cups on my back. But the foot massage was really good, despite the cups. :)
April 14, 2009
11.04.09 The Great Wall, Simatai
We started at 8:30 in the morning from the East Gate of the university and after a three hour drive we reached a section of the Great Wall, called Simatai. So far I've been to a section of the Great Wall in Zhangjiakou and also Mutianyu, near Beijing. Mutianyu was high on the mountain but except for one climb, the wall was nice to walk on. Simatai on the other hand climbs high up on the side of the mountain and depending on the way you're going it's either going up all the time or going down, so not that much level ground.
When we got to Simatai the weather was really foggy and there was a little rain in the air. We couldn't see where the mountain ended and how high the wall climbed, so we decided to take the cable car up. When we got to the top, we realized we had many a good choice. The cable car took us almost to the wall and we had to climb up for about 15 minutes to reach the wall. When we got to the wall the weather started to clear up slowly and we walked down on the wall and all the way down to where we started from.
Compared to Mutianyu, Simatai is more damaged by the years. In most of the parts there were now sides on the wall and it looked a little scary, because you could have just fallen down and rolled down the mountain. But we stayed in the middle of the wall and everything was good.
When we got to Simatai the weather was really foggy and there was a little rain in the air. We couldn't see where the mountain ended and how high the wall climbed, so we decided to take the cable car up. When we got to the top, we realized we had many a good choice. The cable car took us almost to the wall and we had to climb up for about 15 minutes to reach the wall. When we got to the wall the weather started to clear up slowly and we walked down on the wall and all the way down to where we started from.
Compared to Mutianyu, Simatai is more damaged by the years. In most of the parts there were now sides on the wall and it looked a little scary, because you could have just fallen down and rolled down the mountain. But we stayed in the middle of the wall and everything was good.
10.04.09 The Forbidden City
The boys (Matti, Kuti & Santtu) came to Beijing yesterday and today it was time for the Forbidden City once I got out of my Chinese class. We took the subway to the Tia'anmen Square and walked through it on our way to the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City was built in 1406 and it's the largest and best preserved complex of ancient buildings in China. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just like the Great Wall. I figured, that since I'm here I should try to see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Beijing. Now I've been to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, and the Ming Tombs. So I'm only missing the Summer Palace, Manchu Imperial Palace and the Peking Man Site, but I don't actually know if I even want to see the last two, but we'll see.
Lions in the Forbidden City
Anyways, the Forbidden City was built for the emperors (Ming and Qing dynasties) and their empresses and servants, and no common people were allowed in, hence the name. The area of the Forbidden City is huge and there are parks and tons of different buildings that served different functions (such as the building where the emperor got dressed for ceremonies and a building for him to rest while he made his way through the city to attend a ceremony).
Gate of Supreme Harmony
I was maybe a little disappointed in the Forbidden City. I had been waiting to see clothes, crowns and all kinds of things that the emperors used, but mainly the Forbidden City was just buildings without any special shows on artifacts. The City was pretty and I liked the buildings and especially the park we found, but I still would have wanted to see more.
The Forbidden City was built in 1406 and it's the largest and best preserved complex of ancient buildings in China. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just like the Great Wall. I figured, that since I'm here I should try to see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Beijing. Now I've been to the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, and the Ming Tombs. So I'm only missing the Summer Palace, Manchu Imperial Palace and the Peking Man Site, but I don't actually know if I even want to see the last two, but we'll see.
Lions in the Forbidden CityAnyways, the Forbidden City was built for the emperors (Ming and Qing dynasties) and their empresses and servants, and no common people were allowed in, hence the name. The area of the Forbidden City is huge and there are parks and tons of different buildings that served different functions (such as the building where the emperor got dressed for ceremonies and a building for him to rest while he made his way through the city to attend a ceremony).
Gate of Supreme HarmonyI was maybe a little disappointed in the Forbidden City. I had been waiting to see clothes, crowns and all kinds of things that the emperors used, but mainly the Forbidden City was just buildings without any special shows on artifacts. The City was pretty and I liked the buildings and especially the park we found, but I still would have wanted to see more.
April 08, 2009
Bijie area, Guizhou province
06.04.09 First day
The day started at 04:00am from our dormitory's lobby. We met there and started our trip to Guizhou province, which is in south China. The trip was organized by an organization, basically free and completely organized. We flew to Guiyang and when we arrived there, we were taken for a lunch near the airport. The food was good and during the dinner we had a drinking ceremony done by a minority group. The minority people came in singing and went around and made people drink.
Drinking Ceremony
After the lunch the bus took us to our hotel in a police escort. We had the police with us probably because the Ambassador of Croatia and Hungary we with us with their families. The hotel was about three hours away from Guiyang and really interesting with a small garden in the middle of the hotel lobby. After resting for a while, we went for a walk with few police officers, because we weren't allowed to go alone. And at six we went to a restaurant to have dinner, again with the drinking ceremony. Again the food was good and there was plenty of it. After dinner we were able to go to a karaoke/disco next to our hotel.
The hotel
07.04.09 Flowers and mountains
After breakfast the bus took us up to the mountains to a camping spot where we participated in a ceremony. After the ceremony we were taken to another place to look at Azaleas (the flowers). We walked around the mountains and looked at flowers and the wonderful scenery with flourishing mountains after another.
The scenery
For lunch we had some really spicy, but really good, food. And after lunch we went to the first spot to rest for a while in tents. After resting it was time to walk around the mountains again and get ready for the evening barbecue with drinking ceremony, performances and dancing. The evening was really great, I had tons of fun and it would have been nice to continue the evening longer.
Camping
08.04.09 Coming back
After breakfast the bus took us to the airport and we had lunch in the same place where we had lunch on the first day. We drove through some really nice scenery and were able to see some of south China's farm lands. The trip was awesome and a great opportunity. After we arrived back to Beijing, it was time to return to normal daily life with lectures and homework.
Mountains
The day started at 04:00am from our dormitory's lobby. We met there and started our trip to Guizhou province, which is in south China. The trip was organized by an organization, basically free and completely organized. We flew to Guiyang and when we arrived there, we were taken for a lunch near the airport. The food was good and during the dinner we had a drinking ceremony done by a minority group. The minority people came in singing and went around and made people drink.
Drinking CeremonyAfter the lunch the bus took us to our hotel in a police escort. We had the police with us probably because the Ambassador of Croatia and Hungary we with us with their families. The hotel was about three hours away from Guiyang and really interesting with a small garden in the middle of the hotel lobby. After resting for a while, we went for a walk with few police officers, because we weren't allowed to go alone. And at six we went to a restaurant to have dinner, again with the drinking ceremony. Again the food was good and there was plenty of it. After dinner we were able to go to a karaoke/disco next to our hotel.
The hotel07.04.09 Flowers and mountains
After breakfast the bus took us up to the mountains to a camping spot where we participated in a ceremony. After the ceremony we were taken to another place to look at Azaleas (the flowers). We walked around the mountains and looked at flowers and the wonderful scenery with flourishing mountains after another.
The sceneryFor lunch we had some really spicy, but really good, food. And after lunch we went to the first spot to rest for a while in tents. After resting it was time to walk around the mountains again and get ready for the evening barbecue with drinking ceremony, performances and dancing. The evening was really great, I had tons of fun and it would have been nice to continue the evening longer.
Camping08.04.09 Coming back
After breakfast the bus took us to the airport and we had lunch in the same place where we had lunch on the first day. We drove through some really nice scenery and were able to see some of south China's farm lands. The trip was awesome and a great opportunity. After we arrived back to Beijing, it was time to return to normal daily life with lectures and homework.
Mountains
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