Chengdu, China Study Abroad: Chengdu Week 10

Nov. 8, 2014

The day start with Sean, Jesse and I admitting that we have a coffee addiction. We camped out at the table nearest to the drinks and just kept emptying out the small jug they had for us. Then after breakfast we were back on the bus. Our first stop was actually within walking distance, but the drove us as they usually do. It was the Stone Stele Museum. It had statues and famous calligraphy tablets. It was a quiet, peaceful way to start the morning. After about 45 minutes it was a long three hour ride out to the countryside. The problem with this area is the pollution. I could barely see 50 yards away from the freeway, so I have no idea what the Shaanxicountryside looks like. We arrived in Yuan village around lunch time and were immediately ushered into a restaurant. The food was actually fairly tasty, it’s amazing what happens when Wentao plans the trip. We were then unleashed onto the tourist town. It was ok but it didn’t really feel any different than any other tourist town we had been to. There was one really cool little shrine in the back of the town that I enjoyed, but otherwise we wandered around and then got back on the bus.

He's making an impression for a wall scroll

Yuan Village Shrine

Noodles!

We were driven to the Tang dynasty tombs. Before we went into the ticketed area of mountain, we were take to a mountain dweller home. They build their homes into the hillside using the natural insulation of mud and hay. It was actually pretty interesting. We were taken back up the hill, and into the ticketed part of the mountain. We technically had about 45 minutes but a group of us committed to climbing to the top. And so up we went, it was an intense, steep and totally doable. The top allowed for a sorta of view of the area. Again the pollution made it nearly impossible to see anything and the camera I was using was unable to pick anything up really. It was still a fun journey. Going down our little group essentially ran down the mountainside, probably not the best of moves but we had a blast. Then it was back on the bus for an obnoxious bus ride home. Everyone was really squirrelly, but we managed to make it back in one piece. We got dinner in the Muslim quarter, it was pretty tasty. Then we wandered around, singing a very catchy popular song in Chinese. It made Chinese people around us laugh pretty hard. It’s our little joke. Then it was back to the hotel for movie (Crystal had never seen the Lion King). Tomorrow we go in the morning to ride the city wall before we have to depart.