DOs:
1. Do make the trip to Xi'an, the cradle of China
Kopped this off the internet: Were China a tree, Beijing would be the crown while Xian would be its deep roots. As a saying goes: "Go to Shanghai and you will find a 100-year-old China; go to Beijing and you will find a 1000-year-old China; go to Xian and then you will find a 3000-year-old China." In other words, this is one of the oldest and most important cities in China la. I think this city was designated the capital city for 13 dynasties!!! It is home to some super ancient stuff like the Lantian Man (from a million years back), some neolithic village and of course, the famous Terracotta Army and Hua Shan (华山) - more on the last two later. Think about it - the fengshui here must be very fabs for these people to have chosen the city.
2. Do make the trip with strangers
Dawn. On-the-go, driven, adventurous, game for anything, loves good food.
Sherwin. Super relaxed, easy-going, gentleman, loves good food.
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| We were also well behaved cos one wrong move will result in little push off the mountain! Oops.. |
On Huashan, we met groups and groups of Chinese tourists (ok la, we were shoved and pushed most of the time and eye contact was established mostly to stare them down) but none touched our hearts like these two groups.
This group of uncles were from Guangzhou and we chatted in Cantonese while they took a break from the climb and ate their snacks. The oldest of them is 70+!!! So friendly and kind - they made my day. The other group of aunties we met on the way down the mountain. They look so steady right? We were dying by the 100th step down and they were still sprightly and beaming and all ready for pictures. Ah-ma-zing.
4. Do things in reverse order
We went on the ancient city wall (西安城墙) at night because we were so relaxed about the first day's itinerary and by the time we got to the wall, we were the last ones up. I think most folks would go on it in the day and cycle around slowly. Because we went on the wall at night, we cycled really quickly because it was freezing! And the city just looked more fascinating at night, with the lights and shadows at play.
The wall was built during the Tang dynasty (618 - 907) and today, it is the most complete city wall in China and one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. So, it was rather cool to have been able to cycle on it.
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| Can you imagine this being a brothel in the old days and the ladies waving their silk kerchiefs and calling out, "来啊!" |
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| The wall was close to 14 km- long. Cycling in the cold was no joke! |
We climbed Huashan! I still can't believe I did it. Ok fine, we took the cable car up but we still had to climb partways up. Why the excitement? Here are a few reasons:
It is one of the most famous mountains in Chinese history and culture, thanks to The Legend of the Condor Heroes (射雕英雄传) where they held a "discussion about swords" on Huashan (华山论剑) - kidding! They had a very intense sword-fight to determine who would 称霸武林 (rule the martial arts world);
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| Crane stance! |
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| Trace: Mantis move; Dawn: Huang Fei Hong; Sherwin: Waiter stance |
It is one of the "most precipitous mountains in China" - around 100 people fall to their deaths from the mountain every year. On one face of the mountain, thrill-seekers hang by a chain and cling to its face to scale the mountain. I have one word for them - siao. But we did our own version of stunts and when we were done with our mini photo shoot, a couple of tourists came up to ask if we were out of our minds.
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| Sher refuses to go near the edge. |
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| Cos I was trying to make him do this stunt for a photo! |
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| So we settled for sitting near the edge. But notice how his legs were still AWAY from the edge. Haiyoh. |
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| Don't dither or you will teeter! |
6. Do keep calm and carry on
We went to Huashan on a Saturday (please refer to #1 on the DON'Ts list) and it was C.R.A.Z.Y.. After this trip, I totally understand how and why a Chinese tourist stabbed an operator during the massive October hols.
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| Sea of DL faces |
So we were queuing for 2 hours plus to get onto the cable car and this chap cut in front of us. Sherwin and I decided, ok la, one chap only, let him through. And also because he was big and burly but that's a secondary point. But this #$%&# of a man started slowly pulling his friends over the railing and putting more and more people between us and him. So when this last lady climbed over the railing, Sherwin lost it and told her that they were just too much! And she started talking very fast and I shouted over her in Chinese saying "Forget it! You have already jumped the queue! Stop talking to us!"
In a much later conversation:
Me to Sherwin: "By the way, what rude thing did that lady say just now?"
Sherwin: "Err... she actually said sorry and asked us to move ahead to the front of the queue."
Me: "... ... ..." Gua gua gua...
So my life lesson is: Listen before yelling. It is never too late to lose your temper.
Tracy
P.S. Stay tuned for the next post about the "Don'ts"
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| I will not panic, I will not panic.... |
