Xian: My Favorite City

Xian is a city I like most. In this international metropolis, classic and modern elements are perfectly combined. The charming history and culture of this city make me fall love with it completely. Xian has been the capital city of 13 dynasties in the history and the most influential city. There are many famous places of historical interest, such as the Bell and Drum Towers, the Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Shaanxi History Museum, Silk Road, and the ancient City Wall etc. Each of it is embodied with abundant cultural ans historical connotation.

According to the schedule, I arrived in this unfamiliar city. It is new for me, but at the moment I stepped in, I felt it was acquainted somehow. I did not stay here for a long time, from the day I came to departure, it is four days at most. In these days, I walked through many streets and alleyways, old or modern, new or shabby.

Xian is not a city full of skyscrapers. It is a place abundant with historical charm. Every corner is worthy exploring carefully. I enjoy this kind of experience, because it makes me a real insider of its culture and taste at this moment. In most time, I did not capture too much pictures with my camera, instead, I recorded and felt with my heart.

Shanghai: Ohel Moishe Synagogue—Jews’ Temple of God in China

The old site of Ohel Moishe Synagogue is a must-see place for Jewish tourists in China. Built in 1927 (the year of 5688 in Jewish calender), Ohel Moishe Synagogue was originally a dedicated church for Jews and it became the religious center of the Jewish refugees of Shanghai during the World War Ⅱ. The Jewish Youth had set up its headquarter in Ohel Moishe Synagogue. It had given the warmest reception to the 20,000 displaced Jewish refugees and also witnessed the kindness of Chinese people, especially the tolerance and goodness of Shanghai citizens. Ohel Moishe Synagogue has become the antonomasia of “salvation” and “shelter”, just like Oskar Schindler and Raoul Wallenberg. Even though I am a Chinese, I am still amazed by that period of history in this Shanghai Xian tour. 　

In 2007, Hongkou District repaired the church and changed its name into Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum. Ohel Moishe Synagogue perhaps remains the most complete written texts and real objects about “Jewish refugee ghetto” in Shanghai.

At that time, Ohel Moishe Synagogue had become the gathering place the Jewish refugees and supported their beliefs. The set up schools, hospitals, stores and factories here, and continued the anti-fascist struggle through various organized activities. Shanghai had been the warmest and the safest haven in the Far East. Many of them still had stayed for a long time after the end of the war. Many international figures have visited the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, including the former U.S. President Bill Clinton, the former Israel president Moshe Katzav, former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and former Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. Just like the world famous Terra-cotta Warriors in Xian tour, which has attracted 179 heads of states and governments.

Shaanxi: Changqing Huayang Scenic Site

Changqing Huayang tourist zone is located 76 kilometers north of Yangxian County, south slope of Qinling Mountain. With an average elevation of 1700 meter above sea level, the tourist zone has 48,000-hectare forest land, 6,500-hectare water area, and 557-hectare agricultural acreage( 337 hectares of paddy field and 220 hectares dry land). Endowed with the biodiversity and the cream of natural landscape, the four national treasures — the crested ibis, giant panda, golden monkey, and takin are in a great number and widely spread in the scenic site. In addition, alpine meadow and precious plant like Abies chensiensis, and natural karst caves set off against with each other, forming the unique Qingling eco-tourist attraction. The latest Xian package tour gave me the first chance to step close to the cute giant pandas.

Up to now, the tourist zone has obtained the international Registration Certification of " Green Globe 21 "approved by WTO and entered the China’s “Man and Biosphere Programme”. The four national treasures and the primeval forest have grabbed the imagination of tens of millions of tourists from both at home and abroad. Besides, in the heartland of the tourist zone, there is the ancient town of Huayang and Ancient Dangluo Pland Path, which adds some cultural atmosphere to the scenic site.

Qinling Mountain enjoys a famous reputation of “China’s Central Garden”. Nestling up against Taibai Mountain, with west to Chenggu and Liuba County, and east to Foping and Zhouzhi County, Changqing Huyang tourist zone covers a total area of 29,906 hectares. It is a comprehensive ecotourist attraction which combines natural reserves, precious plants and animals viewing, ecological humanity sightseeing, Red tourism, adventure travel, religious tourism and leisure travel together. Because of its biodiversity, it is hailed as “the shelter of relic plants and the paradise of wild lives of Qinling Mountain. The four national treasures of crested ibis, giant panda, golden monkey, and takin perches and reproduce at the same place, which is seldom seen in China. Particularly, giant pandas are intensively spread in the area. According to the ten-year research conducted by Peking University and Changqing Natural Reserve, currently there are over 80 giant pandas there, accounting for 30% of the total amount of that in Qinling Mountain. The distribution density ranks the first across the country.

For visitors of Xian tour, Changqing Huayang tourist zone has become a must-see attraction for giant panda—the National Treasure.

Beijing: the Royal Press in the Imperial Palace

The Forbidden City, built as the imperial palace of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, covers an area of 720,000 square meters and has more than 8,700 rooms. Every palace and hall have its own story to tell. Today, we’ll talk about the royal library in my Beijing to Xian tour — Wuying Palace, which actually refers to the Wuying Palace Buildings.

Built in 1420 of Yongle reign in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Wuying Palace buildings are located outside the Xihemen Gate. It covers an area of 12,000 square meters. In early Ming Dynasty, the palace was served as a place for the emperor to fast and summon his officials for consultation. In the 17th year of Chongzhen reign (1644), Li Zicheng captured Beijing and held his coronation ceremony in the palace. After the invasion of Man troops into Beijing through Shanhai Pass, Duoergun, a prince regent of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911), conducted government affairs here. Later, in the 8th year(1669) of Kang Xi reign in Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi had moved to Wuying Palace due to the overhaul of Qianqing Palace (the palace where the Emperor slept). And in 1680, Emperor Kang Xi set up a book press in the Palace to print and edit books.

Wuying Palace was destroyed by fire during the Ming and Qing dynasties and it has been renovated nine times since the Palace Museum was founded in 1925. In 2005, a two-year repair and reconstruction of the Wuying Palace was completed and opened to visitors as an exhibition hall for books and paintings in the recent half a century.

After the travel in Beijing, I flied to Xian for my next Xian Terra-cotta Warriors tour, which is the most spectacular tour in my life.

Old Beijing Painting Museum

On the way home from work, I see many scenes every day: aged men playing cheese on the street, women bringing vegetables to cook at home; children back home after school; baby dogs skipping across me happily. What I have seen shows you Beijing’s life in modern times. If you want to experience the old Beijing life, there is a place where you can see thousands of people’s lives from one and one huge electronic-painting, which will bring you back to the 1930’s old Beijing.

The electronic exhibition in the old Beijing Museum is a perfect combination of high-tech and traditional painting art. Nowadays, more and more visitors choose to have a sight in this museum in their Beijing Xian package tour. The pictures are originated from the famous painter Wang Daguan. After 50 years painstaking, he finally finished the series of Old Beijing Looking around Paintings. Even his first vision has won many highly praise, not only because of his outstanding painting skills, but also because of the real passion he has invested in.

It is complicated and difficult to present such a big Beijing with numerous people and life screens. With the help of people from different fields, Mr. Wang figured out to begin his painting from the east part of the ancient capital to the west Tongzhou district, passing Chaoyang Door and large and small Hutongs and streets, and end up at the Tian’anmen Cheesing Street. Same is the directions of north and south. In this way, the paintings have unfolded the whole layout of the ancient capital logically and clearly before one’s eyes. Actually, in my Xian trip, I bought the famous farmers’ painting in Huxian County, which vividly depicts the daily lives of the people in Huxian County, Xian City.

Jiangsu: Taizhou City

After we finish my Xian trip, we have a short stay at Taizhou. Taizhou City is located in the center of Jiangsu Province, and it is one of the 16 key cities in Yangtze River Delta Economic zone. Lying in the Yangtze River bank, Taizhou city is hailed as “Phoenix city” and “Key location of land and water and the throat od stronghold ”. Qingzhou city has a history of over 2100 years, and its name has also changed several times. It was called Haiyang in Qin Dynasty(221BC-207BC), then Hailing in Han Dynasty(206BC-220AD), and Wenchang in Northern Song Dynasty(960AD-1127AD). Situated in the convergence of the Yangtze River and Huaihai River, Taizhou city was hailed as an auspicious place.

Taizhou City is also a world of water. The location of Qinhu Lake determines that Qinhu National Wetland Park could integrates all features of freshwater wetlands in lower reaches of Yangtze River. With pools and depressions crisscrossing in the area, it is a rare freshwater wetland across the country. Lizhong aquatic forest reveals you anther different sight. It covers a total area of 1,550 mu, of which 1050 mu are forestry area and water area account for 500 mu. The main plants of the forestry area is the Pond cypress, with Egrets, Black Cuckoo and wild ducks perch there all year around. It is a natural oxygen bar and a perfect place for urbanites to enjoy nature. As a transfer station in our Shanghai to Xian tour, Taizhou gives me a chance to enjoy nature.

Beijing: Houhai Lake

Houhai Lake is located at Di’anmen venue of Beijing and it is a part of Shichahai Lake which is composed by Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai. It stretches from the outer street of Di’anmen in east to Xinjiekou Street in west, south to Ping’an Street and north to the second ring, covering a total area of 146.7 hectares, with 11.5 hectares green area. This is the ancient waters of Yuan Dynasty 700 years ago in Beijing. Last time when I joined a Beijing to Xian tour, I went to Houhai and take many beautiful photos. I will put some to share with you.

In Houhai Lake is a place where you can watch mountain and appreciate swaying willows. The residences and their residents, together with the surrounding palaces and Chinese celebrities’former houses shows the Beijing-style and its long history. People come here to listen to the insects rustling, to see the Siheyuan building complexes of ancient Beijing and to trace the passing royal charm.

Houhai Lake is situated in the center of Beijing, only four or five stops away from Tian’anmen Square. It is connected with the famous Beihai Lake, and faces Jingshan Hill and the Forbidden City. Walking along the bank, green tiles and red walls can be seen everywhere. What you can see is only the verdant trees inside the walls, which makes the city more mysterious. If you travel Xian, you will find Xian is a ancient city that is very similar to Beijing.

Shanxi: Courtyard of Qiao Family

It took about 30 minutes to drive from ancient town Pingyao to Courtyard of Qiao Family, which enjoy a same reputation with the Courtyard of Gao Family, a famous attraction in Xian travels. The courtyard is located in Qixian, which looks busier than Pingyao. Walking through a muddy lane and went across several blocks of traders’stalls, we finally arrived at Qiao Courtyard. Through the film directed by Zhang Yimou, one of China’s most famous directors, I knew this place. To be honest, I did not understand the film very much at that time. Perhaps it was the depressive atmosphere that rightly fit into my rebellious psychology then made it impressed me a lot.

Although it was noisy outdoor, when you step into the courtyard, everything as silenced immediately. The gray bricks and black tiles were just as profound as the soil here, while the big red lanterns hanged in the buildings were like elves, which made the depressive atmosphere stir with ripples. Speak of the courtyard, its owner Qiao Zhiyong must be mentioned. Of course, those great stars of Jin merchants is a must-say topic. However, in this quiet rainy day, all of these great achievements were no longer important. All you have to do is just standing in the center, and began to imagine freely. It is a short stay in my Beijing to Xian tour, but I will never forget this trip.

North Guangzhou: Lianzhou Underground River

Lianzhou Underground River is located 26 kilometers northwest of Lianzhou city, a famous cultural and historical city in China’s southern Guangdong Province which is also renowned for its gorgeous. Lying in the junction of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan Province, it is a typical subtropical karst (dissolved rock) cave with an underground river inside it. The cave was shaped by crustal movement 200 million years ago, now it forms an sightseeing area of 60,000 square kilometers, with the highest point as 47.8 meters and the widest distance as 53.6 meters.

With comfortable temperature（being about 18℃）and fresh air, it becomes a well known summer resort. Due to millions of years erosion, there are numerous beautiful stalactites to be seen. As for a person who grew up in Karst landform of Guizhou mountain area, I am very familiar with karst caves. When I walked into the entrance, it reminded me with my childhood. My tour guide told me that the natural karst cave is divided into three floors, with a total length of about 1,860 meters.

Walking along the winding stone pathway, travelers will be shocked by the fascinating variety of stalactites visible. The stalactites themselves are colored with various colors in the rays of the colorful lights, magnificent and amazing.