All posts tagged: info

Places to Go: Jiao Zuo – Ying Shi Cheng

Published by Sula H.

Most people know Jiao Zuo because of Yuntai Mountain or the Henan Polytechnical University. There is, however, another place right in Jiao Zuo worth checking out – Ying Shi Cheng. The Film and TV City. Erected in 1995, it is one of China’s top ten filming locations for historical tv and movie productions. The entire area facilitates two palace complexes, a small town center (including a main road, private houses, guest house, restraurant, etc.), a temple, a farm house and even a wall that could count as the Great Wall. Passing through, you really feel taken back in time when emperors still ruled the nation and romance and adventure waited just around the corner. And if you are lucky, you might even run into a film crew working on a production. Once they see it, most Chinese are familiar with the place because of the many movie scenes that have been produced here and many famous actors have sweated and enjoyed the dramas, tragedies, romance and adventures enfolding here in Yin Shi Cheng. Entrance fees …

Places to Go: Xi’An – Terracotta Warriors

Published by Sula H.

One of the sites China is most famous for is the Terracotta Army in Xi’An. In terms of historical and national significance, it ranks up there right together with the Great Wall. Now, there are people who have gone there and say that after all it’s quite a disappointing experience, since you can only see those warriors from afar, but I think visiting the terracotta army is still very impressive. There are several underground vaults, the first one holding 6000 terracotta figures of warriors and horses alone. Displayed, you will find soldiers of different ranks and purpose, anything from archers and horsemen to generals and other senior officers. Some are kneeling, while others are standing. Having been buried for more than 2000 years, it’s a fascinating spectacle: Each warrior was crafted with an individual face and appearance, the sculptors even paying attention to such details as the lines in the hands or the shoe prints, let alone all the intricate makings of each individual’s clothes. Rumor has it that if a manufacturer didn’t complete his …

Places to Go: Kaifeng (Iron Pagoda)

Published by Sula H.

Kaifeng is not only famous for having once been the capital of China during its long history, it is also well-known for one of its cultural relics – the Iron Pagoda (or Iron Tower as it is usually referred to by locals). A name which – ironically – is quite misleading, as its structure has nothing to do with iron at all. Built in 1049, the Iron Pagoda is actually made from glazed bricks, which give it the appearance of iron, thus its nick name. 13 stories tall with a height of 55.63 meters and 168 steps leading to the top, the Iron Pagoda is richly decorated with ancient ornaments depicting flowers, figures of people and creatures. So far, it has survived over 40 earthquakes, 20 hail storms and was flooded by the nearby Yellow River six times. Nicely situated in a rather large and pretty well-kept garden, the Iron Tower should be on the list of sights to see for everyone visiting Kaifeng.

Places to Go: Kaifeng (Imperial Garden)

Published by Sula H.

One of the places that doesn’t get many tourists, but is worth a visit, is Kaifeng. It has a long history, and even can boast of once having been the imperial capital of China during the Northern Song dynasty. Now, it’s mainly known for its night market when hundreds of locals flood the city center and offer all different kinds of foods to the visitor. The Dragon Pavilion One of Kaifeng’s main attractions, however, is the Imperial Garden (LongTing Gongyuan) where once the emperors of China resided. It’s near the city center and besides its extensive gardens holds several ancient buildings. Visitors can climb the stairs of its main facility, the Dragon Pavilion (Long Ting)  to have a look at the throne room with some displays imitating ancient times, as well as stroll through the park. Most of the park, however is covered by lakes, and you can tour the largest one with boats which are offered right near the Dragon Pavilion. Entrance fees currently start at ¥25 per person.

Places to Go: Taishi Mountain

Published by Sula H.

A place well worth a visit is Dengfeng, a comparatively small city in the heart of China. Dengfeng is most famous for the widely renowned Shaolin Temple – the birth place of both Kong Fu and Zen Buddhism. Surrounded by impressive mountain ranges, Dengfeng is not only a place for those interested in culture, it also offers great opportunities for outdoor activities, especially hiking and mountain climbing. Probably the more well-known mountain in the area is Songshan (shan = mountain), which is accessible via the Shaolin Temple grounds. However, another mountain worth climbing is Taishi Mountain, with an altitude of about 1440 m one of the highest peaks in the area. Not far from the city center, it’s easy to access and takes you right into a beautiful landscape of bizarre rock formations and untouched nature. The only downside to hiking up Taishi Mountain: you have to be willing and able to climb lots of stairs. And – like many other scenic spots in China – accessing the mountain isn’t free, unless you can find …

One Year Ago

Published by Sula H.

Today, exactly one year ago, I woke up to this! It had started to snow the day before, and in hopes of getting some pictures of the snow before all the students would play with it and mess up the peaceful scenery, I got up extra early to go for a walk on campus. Hardly ever do we get snow like this, and just as I had expected: only hours later the beauty of an untouched winter wonderland had faded, as thousands of students enjoyed some extra fun in the snow. One interesting observation I could make on that snowy day, last year: though all the students live within walking distance of their classrooms, still, no one thought of leaving their dorms earlier to make sure they’d be on time for class. After all, walking on slippery snow and ice takes longer than usual. But nobody seemed to bother that everyone was late, even though – with just a little bit of careful planning – everybody could have made it on time! Waking up this …