Dunhuang - Mogao Grottos

After our fun days in Shanghai we joined the Fun For Less tour group to start our Silk Road adventure.  First stop was Dunhuang, China where we toured the Mogao Caves which is home to the world's richest collection of Buddhist manuscripts and art.  Construction began in 386 AD and continued for the next 900 years.  The caves were first places of meditation for hermit monks but developed to serve the monasteries that sprang up nearby.  I didn't know that in addition to the goods that traveled this way, Buddhism made its way from India to China along this route.  Merchants shared their religious beliefs as they traveled the Silk Road and Buddhism became the predominant religion of China.

 Using funds from donors, monks constructed these caves which were elaborately painted, the cave painting and architecture served as aids to meditation and teaching tools to inform the illiterate about Buddhist beliefs and stories. 

The major caves were sponsored by patrons such as important clergy, local rulers, foreign dignitaries and Chinese emperors. 

Other caves may have been funded by merchants, military officers or local groups. 

I particularly liked the statues. 

The paintings that depicted everyday life were interesting too. 

There are over 2000 murals and sculptures, now carefully preserved behind wooden doors. 

The 1st of many things that I'd never heard of but thoroughly enjoyed seeing. 

It is always fun to share these adventures with John and Katherine. 

Chinese Food

 I have to admit that I am a big fan of Chinese food at Panda Express...so very Americanized Chinese food.  During our day in the water village I enjoyed several tastes of 'real authentic' Chinese food and mostly enjoyed it. I didn't try the crab on a stick...

The duck on a stick was also a hard NO....why do Chinese like putting things on a stick???? 

But I really did enjoy the bean paste wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed...

The sweet and sour barbecued pork was good too...also wrapped in bamboo leaves. 

Wrapping in bamboo leaves seems to be the norm...they also had lots of yummy things with various kinds of beans that are green.  Not the traditional green beans we think of.  They were more like a green kidney bean.  They had several varieties of spices and I liked them all. 

Our cute guide named Bright didn't know an English name for these.  They were some sort of vegetable that tasted a bit like water chestnuts.  She called it 'water fruit'. 

Bright was a fun guide.  She is expecting her first baby in a couple of months.  We enjoyed our day with her even when she sang several Beijing opera songs to us.....Chinese opera is a definite unique sound and an acquired taste in music I think.  George noted that when she started singing, our driver put in earphones.  I guess he hasn't acquired the taste yet! 

Zhujiajiao- Venice of Shanghai

My friends who lived in Shanghai talked about going to one of the water villages near the city.  On our 2nd day we had a private tour of the town of Zhujiajiao, which is known as the Venice of Shanghai.  The history of the town dates back 1700 years.  

There are lovely waterways.

Curved Bridges

Narrow streets   

Old buildings dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911).  

The town is full of charm... 

The guide book said, "walking along the pathways you feel like you are in an elegant and fresh painting." 

One of the activities that you can do is rent authentic period clothing and have your picture taken by a pro.  We didn't do this but I did have fun taking pictures of this local in her outfit.

We walked through another lovely garden with many water features. 

Chinese gardens are just so picturesque, peaceful and photogenic!  

Our gondola ride wasn't quite like Venice but it was a fun outing and I'm so glad we had this fun experience. 

Modern Shanghai

We began our 2nd day in Shanghai on the famous promenade known as the Bund.  This is actually the old city wall but most visitors, including us, come here for the views across the river to the ever changing skyline of Púdōng. 

Our 2nd destination for the day was the building on the right that looks a bit like a bottle opener.  A speedy elevator took us 100 floors up to the viewing platform.  The views from here were simply amazing. 

Notice that there are parts of the floor that are glass.  You could look straight down 100 floors.  

Also notice where George's feet are....I am impressed that he got even this close to the edge! 

Have you ever used the bathroom with this kind of view???  A fancy toilet and wow what a view! 

Back outside we could look up at the Shanghai Tower, the world's tallest building!

Nighttime found us back down at the Bund for the fabulous light show.   Modern Shanghai didn't disappoint!

Yùyuán Gardens

The Yùyuán Gardens were another glimpse into traditional China.  Designed about 400 years ago, during the Ming Dynasty, it is unique in design, perfectly blending the halls, pavilions, pools, bridges, archways and impressive rockeries. 

Classical Chinese gardens are so beautiful and so relaxing. 

The 'rockeries' were impressive rock sculptures that created interesting tunnels. 

My very favorite parts of the garden were all the unique gates. 

Why have a rectangular gate when you can have a gate with curves? 

Or one that looks like a vase? 

Most common of all are the 'moon gates'.  

 I learned that 'a moon gate rises out of the earth, like the moon rises in the sky; both spheres celebrate the continuous cycle of birth and death, rising and falling'. 

Both times we've been in China, local people want to have their photos taken with us.  This nice guy wanted me to take a photo of him with George.  So fun to feel like a celebrity even for a moment! 

After just one day of exploring this fascinating city George and I agree that we LOVE Shanghai!