Dorothy Brook: Sichuan: Daocheng Yading—the Last Pure Land on the...

Dorothy Brook: Sichuan: Daocheng Yading—the Last Pure Land on the...: 70 days have past since I came back from Daocheng Yading, China’s southwestern Sichuan Province. Sometimes, I feel this journey is just li...

Xiamen: Gulangyu Islet

Located to the southwest of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu obtained its present name during the Ming time. There are two rocks piled up in the western corner of the islet. A vertical marine hole right in the middle of the rocks gives off a sound similar to that of a drum when surging waves dash on the rocks, hence its name Gulangyu (“Gu” means drum, “lang” means waves). Due to the historical reason, architectures of various styles have been well preserved and gathered here, therefore it enjoys the famous reputation of “an expo of world architecture”. In addition, Gulangyu is also “a home of music and pianists”.

Before we went there, I had done many preparations for this travel, the must-see featured stores, the must-taste snacks, the must-do things... I thought I would finish the islet thoroughly, but when I stood on the street with the map in my hand, I felt this islet couldn’t be explored only with the aid of a map.

So, we simply wander on the strange unknown islet, just follow our hearts. It spat light rain, and stopped now and then. Sometimes, I just folded the umbrella and let the rain land on me. Or I would stepped into a store and order a cup of hot tea, having a taste of the alluring smell, or we would go back to the hostel and sit on the balcony one by one, without talking, and just enjoy the empty world of our own. At this moment, I suddenly understand the appropriate interpretation to Gulangyu: Time is born to waste.

Beijing: the Ancient Town of Yongning

Located in the middle area of Yanqing jurisdiction, about 90 kilometers away of downtown Beijing, the ancient town of Yongning is the second largest town in Yanqing County. With a long history, the town is named after the city of Yongning. During the period of three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the town was the capital city of Jinyun family, and in the 12th year of Yongle reign(1414 A.D.) of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it was renamed as “Yongning”, with the wish of permanent peace. Just like the original name of Xian, Chang’an, which also means “perpetual peace” — as what I heard from the tour guide in my Xian tour.

The site of Yongning Town, Yongning City was originally built in Ming Dynasty, and it has a history of over 600 years. In early years of the Republic of China, it was affiliated to Yanqing County. Now the ancient town of Yongning has been listed as the second group of “Historical and Cultural Protection Block” by Beijing. It is also hailed as “the first cultural town in suburb of Beijing ”.

One cannot know Yanqing without going to Yongning. The landmark building Yuhuang(Jade Emperor) Tower in the central town is grand and magnificent, which is an embodiment of the artistic accomplishments of the ancient working people in China.

Many toursits choose a Beijing Xian tour  to get the best interpretation of Chiense history.

Beijing: Yudu Mountain

Yudu Mountain is situated in northwest of Yanqing County, and it belongs to the Yudu natural scenic site and covers a total area of over 100 square kilometers. Located in the deep mountains, the landscapes here are very beautiful and the environment is quite serene. With few people coming, it is an uncultivated land that is little known by people.

In the first weekend after the national day holiday, I invited a few friends and headed for Yudu Mountain. Taking a breath of the fresh air, experiencing the excitement of driving on twisting mountain road and appreciating the gorgeous sceneries all the way is really a pleasant and fascinating experience. A lot of people plan a Beijing Xian tour for the historical and cultural tour, but I prefer a scenic tourism.

Yudu Mountain is the best choice for modern people to return to nature. It is a bright pearl hidden in the depth of mountain. It’s beauty is not only embodied in the collection of mountain, stone, forest, spring, fall, flower and plants, but also in the natural feeling of pure, secluded, serene and wild. In the mountains or along the roadside, reeds can be found everywhere. The white catkins are so delicate and special under the bright sunlight. Speak of Xian, there are also many beautiful natural landscapes, such as Mt. Cuihua, Mt Hua etc. If you join a Xian tour, Mt Hua is strongly recommended.

Shanghai: Meet The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Again

In Shanghai, there is a hotel which is called “Le Sun Shine (‘Shengongguan’ in Chinese)”. The name reminds me of an old movie several years ago — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen(‘gentlemen’ is translated into Chinese as ‘Shenshi’ in pinyin), which assembles many legendary figures in some classical science fictions earlier than the movie The Avengers, such as the invisible man in Wales’ s novel, the Captain Nemo in Jules Verne’s, and Tom Sawyer in Mark Twain’s etc. It is the shared character “Shen” that makes me connection between the hotel and the movie. The movie assembles a group of legendary figures, while “Le Sun Chine” collects a group of men with ambitions and dreams.

It’s hard for me to be unforgettable about hotels(of course here I refer to the good point). In addition to HOSHINOYA Hotel of Japan, Le Sun Chine Shanghai is another one. In this Shanghai to Xian tour, I am lucky to stay at the hotel and get fascinated in it. What the most impressive thing is that the people I met. The bartender, the head chef and the principal of the SPA life, all of them seem not to work just for work’s sake. They work for dreams and some happy or perfect things.

What makes me love the hotel is the best fit between the tiny exquisite design and my preference to miniature and privacy. There are only 17 suites of rooms, with every one differs from each other. Le Sun Chine is one of the members of world famous Relais & Chateaux Group and is the only one in Shanghai. Built early at 1920s, it was a renowned Villa residential area which was named “Fanyuan Garden”. At that time. Many social celebrities had lived here, include the Chinese great poet Xu Zhimo’s wife.

In nowadays, many Chinese superstars like Zhang Huimei, Jay, Yao Chen and Yang Min etc have stayed in the hotel. Some featured hotels like The Shangri-La Hotel Xian, The Crown Plaza Hotel Xian etc are strongly recommended in a Xian tour.

Beijing: Lost in Nanluoguxiang

Situated at Dongcheng District, near the Drum Tower with its northern end at Drum Tower East Street and the southern end at Di’anmen East Street, Nanluoguxiang is among one of the oldest hutongs in Beijing and has a history of over 800 years. This 800-meter long and 8-meter width alleyway was completed at the same time (1267) with the capital Dadu(today’s Beijing) city of Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368). It is the only one best preserved chessboard-type traditional residence which keeps the largest -scale, the highest-quality hutong texture of Yuan Dynasty.

 

Nanluoguxiang and its surroundings had been the center of Yuan’s capital city Dadu, and in Ming Dynasty, it was a land of power and wealth which was crowded with dignitaries and splendid palaces and halls. Till the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, Nanluoguxiang began to decline. Before the demolition of the old hutongs of Beijing, the proposal of protecting ancient city got serious concern. With its relatively well-preserved community structure of Yuan Dynasty and notable persons’ mansions of Ming and Qing Dynasty, Nanluoguxiang survived successfully. In recent years, some prescient persons seized the business chance and rented the houses along the street to set up numerous unique stores of various styles which made the old alleyway gain its new life and attract a great number of visitors from both at home and abroad.

If you are interested in Chinese culture, Nanluoguxiang is a must-see tourist attraction in your Beijing Xian tour, and I believe the Xian package tour will give you a more comprehensive understanding of Chinese history.

Beijing: Mountain Peach Blossom in the Summer Palace

The mountain peach blossom in west causeway of the Summer Palace has enjoyed a famous reputation for a long time, but the florescence of mountain peach has been postponed for two weeks this year due to the cold whether. Fortunately, we caught the full-bloom stage when I joined the Beijing to Xian tour. The hundred of mountain peaches were blooming at the same time, together with a swaying willows along the West Causeway, making the Summer Palace fairy spring-like.

The florescence of the mountain peach in the Summer Palace is usually in mid-March and it will wither in late March normally. Because the temperature in early spring is lower than that of the years before, the florescence came half a month later accordingly. But the gorgeous flowers remain bloomed vagariously, and attracted many shutterbugs and visitors to come.

If you miss the mountain peach flowers in Beijing, then it doesn’t matter, because another flower feast is waiting for you when you travel to Xian. That is the Sakura in Qinglong Temple.