Flew to Hangzhou in the south of China (near Shanghai)
REALLY wanted the whole economy class train experience
but had to settle for flying
SO caught a taxi to the Ling Yin temple
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingyin_Temple
There is beautiful natural scenery in Hangzhou. Dark green old trees with wide branches creating plenty of shade.
Everything looks fresh and green. There is an abundance of forest near the temple. It is full of life.
I went to an amazing building with white walls
and dark brown wood doors and trimmings
Chinese style latterns
with a flush of green plants outside
including lots of bamboo
Found some caves which had ancient carvings on the cave wall wall
I chatted to some Hangzhou people
Went into some magnificent temples
and saw Guiyin Sakymuni Buddha etc
Saffron robed monks walked by
people held incense
in their praying hands and bowed to the Buddha three times
The colours at the temple were yellow and red,
with roofs that curled up more than Qing (Beijing) style
with thinner corner culrs on the roof than from the Tang (Xian/Japan) style
I think I read that Hangzhou has many buildings from the Song dynasty
Hangzhou is a rich city you can tell
It is famous for it's natural environment
It is very beautiful and green but had a smoggy sky
and it is actually a city of 6 million people
traffic jams etc
but it has very expensive looking shops
The West Lake is a beautiful huge lake near the centre of town
This is the most famous tourist spot for the Chinese people.
There are lotus leaves and pagoda's near the edge of the lake.
There is a long bridge and my flatmate and I walked over it with water on each side.
We hired a boat and floated on the West Lake at night.
Anyway it was worth a look
HI FROM SHANGHAI!!!!!!
I feel SO relaxed in Shanghai
WHy?
* it is light and airy
* the light is like Australia
* breeze
* less people
* subway / buses less crowded
* less soot everywhere
people here have clean shoes unlike Beijing where you get soot all over your shoes
people are less trendy than Beijing
people here are less skinny, with darker skin (slightly)
everyone you talk to in shops is happy to have a chat for a while etc
it is more friendly than Beijing
Maybe I am just in holiday mode I don't know
It is not packed with attrctions for tourists. a few but not so many interesting things as Beijing. if you are coming on a brief trip to China go to Beijing.
I LOVE SHANGHAI
today I went to the
Lu Xun Museum who is a famous writer from about the 1920's
I bought his book Wild Grass.... I love teh way he writes it inspires me
This morning I went to the train station (by subway) and bought tickets to Nanjing and then a ticket from Nanjing to Beijing. Got a train ticket!!!!
although SOFT SLEEPER :( I really REALLY REALLY LOVE HARD sleep
like to rough it
I enjoyed taking the subway to the interprovince train station. the Europeans that I am traveling with always want to catch taxi's. I just don't think I get to see the real China in a taxi.
THis afternoon went to the LongHua Paviliion
was great but funny
close by I saw traditional Chinese buildings with a McDonalds, KFC and TESCO sign stuck on.
ummm
yeah the monastry had some old intricate locks on doors, lion door handles, yellow walks with dark red moon door
some Indian style writing
worth a look I would say ( and I have seen A LOT of Chinese tempeles in my time)
Oh one last thing about Shanghai
Shang hai is divided by a lake Huan Pu Jiang and the walk along the older side is called THe Bund which has the 1920's architecture
across the other side is the modern sky scrapers and futuristic looking buildings
I have not been there yet. but apparentlyu tehy have london store H & M
okay betta run
will get a foot massage
have a power nap
then ??? not sure yet
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