Surely, what a trip to China is really all about!
David and Michael enjoy a meal and a drink in one of Beijing's many fantastic restaurants. The next day, Michael went back to Shanghai while Lily and David continued west to Xi'an
Hua Shan Mountain Range
A view of one of Hua Shan's five peaks – taken from the roof of a temple somewhere near the mid-way point. If you look closely, you might be able to make out the 'S' shaped ridge that we followed to get to the summit
Hua Shan Mountain Range
As the tree just in front of the camera shows, the green cloak that covers the bare rocks of Hua Shan, and which you can see stretching off into the distance, consists exclusively of mountain pine
Xi'an
Taken from near the top of the Bell Tower, with the Drum Tower in the middle distance on the right. We include this photo to show that a visit to China is not all parks, peaks, pine trees and pagodas. Cities are cities, everywhere.
Hua Qing Chi – Outside Xi'an
This is a beautiful park and palace dating from the Tang dynasty. It was created by the Emperor Tang Ming Huang for the Lady Yang – his favourite concubine whom he loved dearly but could never marry
Terracotta Warriors – Xi'an
Soldiers and Horses in a Ditch? Or a Master Class in Skillful Marketing? As an archaeological site, this place is dreary in the extreme. But as an object lesson in inspired marketing, it must surely rank as pure genius!
On the way to Yan'an
Hu Kou Pu Bu ("spout of the kettle") waterfalls near the source of the mighty Yellow River. It's not so much a waterfall as a deep fissure in the earth's crust into which the river plunges and then "spouts out" further down. Much more impressive close up
Mao Zedong's Revolutionary HQ – Yan'an
David making a "speech" in the Assembly Hall of the Provisional Seat of Government for the Peoples Republic of China. Unfortunately, Marx and Lenin (background) were the only ones present!
Mao Zedong's Revolutionary HQ – Yan'an
Lily standing outside the "cave-home" of Mao Zedong. The sign above her head tells us so. These caves extend deep into the cliff face – the brickwork being there only to make the fronts look neater.
Back in Xi'an after our excursion to Yan'an
Lily shelters from the sun under a typical ornate gateway within the extensive precincts of the Big Goose Pagoda Temple. This was a quiet corner of what was otherwise a very busy temple.
On the way to Jiu Zhai Gou
Lily buys fruit at one of the many stops on the long coach journey to the far north of Sichuan Province. While we saw quite a few Westerners when we got to Jiu Zhai Gou, it seems that most of them fly there. What a shame to miss out on all this local colour!
Jui Zhai Gou
David agrees to be photographed next to one of the hundreds of raging torrents that power their way down these valleys
Jui Zhai Gou
There is no way we could show the full extent of this waterfall in a single photo – it stretches on and on. But we did capture it on video for good measure.
Jui Zhai Gou
One of the many lakes where all the water ends up – temporarily – until it continues on its way cascading down the mountain again
Jui Zhai Gou
Lily standing by one of the many unbelievably clear blue lakes. And yes – they really are that colour! There are numerous 'walkways' that take you around Jui Zhai Gou. However, they are not intrusive and often provide the only way to properly see some of the sights
