Top Five Impressions of My Datong, Shanxi Trip

I took a night hard sleeper to Datong, Shanxi, Thursday, May 29. The hard sleeper train is basically a crowded 3-level bunker bed as opposed to the 2-level more spacious soft sleeper. It was my first time ever on this hard sleeper, and I learned to appreciate the comfort (and the privacy) the soft sleeper offers. Everything is relative. ;-) See the picture of the hard seat train I took to come back Saturday afternoon.

This was KS group's extended team building event at work, and I was quite happy to go with the group. Interacting with the energetic and talented engineers has always been rewarding to my work at Sun's Engineering and Research Institute.

I picked out 7 pictures to go with my top 5 impressions.

[Yungang Grottoes]

This was the first rock-cut architecture site I ever visited. Seeing it is definitely different from seeing them in the pictures and books. This Yungang Grottos has about 1500 years of history and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. This grotto site was started by the Northern Wei dynasty, ruled by the proto-mongolic tribe called Tuoba. This ethnic group was completely disintegrated and became part of the modern-day Chinese.

This buddha picture on the left is often the picture used for the Yungang Grottos in many post cards and books. The large and small statues in the other picture are quite clever. The small statue actually served as a support piece for the hand of the large statue; without it the hand would be unable to stay in the air.

I have never before visited any grotto in China. I had the impression that access to any of these sites was difficult. I was proved completely wrong as I walked up easily to the grottos. It sort of makes sense, since those early devout religious people and artisans need to access them to do their carvings and worship.

[Hanging Temple]
Built more than 1400 years ago, this temple is unique not only for its location on a sheer precipice but also because it includes Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian elements.

People believe that an ice-based scaffolding was built in winter from the frozen river up, and main treated wooden beams were inserted or wedged into the cliff side. Craftsmen could then work on the rows on beams as a platform when ice melted. Next winter the whole cycle would start over again. The original theory of construction, that ropes from the ridge of the cliff down and into the cliff wall, has been deemed impractical. The latest conjecture on how it was built can be applied to many other similar sheer precipice constructions.

There was an access path that the visitors can take to reach the temple. The passage way inside the temple was quite narrow, and we followed the one-way sign to avoid traffic congestion.

The view from the top was quite awesome, as you can see in this picture on the left. I believe that it would take those monks some time to get used to living up there.

[Hard Seat Train Ride]

It was my first time to take this greenish train. I had an assigned seat. The seating was partitioned asymmetrically by a walkway, with 6 people on one side and 4 on the other side in two rows. There were two small tables between the rows. We played the Chinese version of the "Hearts" (Black Lady) for the most part to kill time. The Chinese name for this is "Egging on the Pig," and the Pig is the "Black Spade Queen." This card has -100 points in the game; the players usually try to get others to take this negative card early.

The trip was a long 6-hour ride and I learned to appreciate the opportunity to lie down on a hard sleeper train. Don't let the good experience of soft sleeper spoil you! Incidentally, I have ridden enough times on the Chinese railways and have seen so many people using this system to move about day and night. The Chinese probably have the most experience in the world in managing large-scale mass transportation systems that move people and goods by railroads.

[Chinese Signage]
Look at this translation "Please Cherish Followers and Trees." This is meant to be "Please Protect Flowers and Trees." There are many translated signs that make you shake your head. This one is not that bad, just incorrect. If you wish to see how hilarious English translations can be, visit the following URL English signage web site. There is a Specially in Chinasection on this web site.

The situation of poorly translated signs is much better in Beijing and other first-tier cities; it gets worse as you move out to the countryside. What's needed is a simple process to allow skilled groups or volunteer organizations to proofread the signs.

[Mao is among the gods]
Seeing what's available on the souvenir stalls always tells me something. This picture showed that Chairman Mao has been elevated to the status of deity. Not only he is historically an important man of his era, his legacy and influence have turned him into a class to be remembered and sometimes to be worshiped.