Followers

Tuesday 10 November 2015

China Part 3.......

Day three found us on our way to visit Huanglongxi Old Town (Yellow Dragon Town).   I thought you might like to experience our journey through Chengdu to our destination, so I took this short video of the manic traffic.



Huanglongxi is an ancient town with a history of more than 1,700 years, it is situated in Shuangliu County, 30 kilometers southeast from Chengdu.

Arriving at our destination we followed our guide into the town, notice the locals keeping to the traditional way of carrying goods.




There is a lovely stream running through the centre of the town, beautifully clean and decorated with traditional ornaments.





It even has a working water wheel!

There were some very interesting food stalls.



Traditional birds in cages,
buildings,





and transport.
Two small temples

and an offering tree.
 
There was a magazine photo shoot taking place whilst we were there using traditional costumes.



We really enjoyed our visit to the old town but it was time to board the coach again and travel to Leshan for lunch, before boarding a boat to take us to view the Giant Buddha.

The other way to see the Giant Buddha is to walk down from the top near the head and end at its feet,
 walk across the walkway in front of the Buddha
and up the other side.
Of course we took the easier option!

Begun in the year 713 in the Tang Dynasty, and finished in the year 803, the statue took people more than 90 years to carve. During these years, thousands of workers had expended their efforts and wisdom on the project. As the biggest carved stone Buddha in the world, the Giant Buddha is featured in poetry, song and story.

Facing the river, the Buddha has symmetrical posture and looks which have been beautifully captured in its solemn stillness. It is 71 meters (about 233 feet) high, and has 8.3-meter-long (about 27 feet) fingers. The 9-meter-wide (about 30 feet) instep is big enough for one hundred people to sit on and the 24-meter-wide (about 79 feet) shoulder is large enough to be a basketball playground.  It truly is a  spectacle to behold.
We had really enjoyed our third day in China taking in the culture but it we had to return to the hotel, rather late that day so we ordered room service and enjoyed a burger and fries, a nice change from a Chinese Banquet!  LOL

Please join me in Part 4 when we visit the Bamboo Park and journey to Chongqing.

10 comments:

Commander Zaius said...

...we ordered room service and enjoyed a burger and fries...

My wife and I usually like to have nice meals when we travel but lately we've been drifting toward simple food after a long day. Great post! Can't wait for the next part.

Cloudia said...

Gosh you were beyond beyond!










ALOHA, Friend
ComfortSpiral

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_('')

Ron said...

Faaaaabulous post, m'dear! I so enjoyed your photographs and video clips. So much of China reminded me of when I lived in Japan for 2 1/2 months. And OMG...that giant Buddha statue is AMAZING! I cannot get over how HUGE it is!

"we ordered room service and enjoyed a burger and fries, a nice change from a Chinese Banquet!"

HAHAHAHAHA! I loved that! And I would have felt the same way.

Thanks so much for sharing this part of your travels to China. Looking forward to Part 4 :)

Have a terrific week!

X

Daryl said...

such an incredible experience ... thanks for sharing ..after i read your recaps i get a yen for Chinese food ..

Valerie said...

Great post, Pearl, but oh gosh it's every man for himself on those street crossings. I would be scared to death. I'm wondering if the food was like the Chinese food we get here. I have heard that it isn't.

CrystalChick said...

Such a wonderful trip!!! Wow, that traffic. Everything is very interesting… oh, but the Giant Buddha!!! LOVE that!

Akelamalu said...

We were having a chinese banquet twice a day Beach, which were delicious, but after a long day, relaxing in our room with simple food and a beer was just the ticket!

We were Cloudia. Xx

Oh Ron the giant buddha was AMAZING you would have loved it! Xx

After almost 14 days of having a Chinese banquet twice a day we still haven't had a yen for more since we got home Daryl! Lol

We were advised to wait until there was a crowd waiting to cross and stand in the middle of them and only use controlled cossings Valerie! The food we were served was delicious and not a lot different to what we get here, though the street food looked risky and unidentifiable so we didn't try it. Lol

It was a wonderful trip Crystalchick, the traffic beat New York!

Gledwood said...

wow I would so love to go !!

Flowerpot said...

Wow what a trip!

Akelamalu said...

I hope you get there some day Gleds. X

it truly was Flowerpot. Xx