Photographs of a Hike up Mt. Emei in Sichuan Province.In July 2007 I traveled to Macao and then on to Chengdu. My first trip took me to LeShan and Chengdu's Giant Sleeping Buddha. After that, I traveled with my friend Mingxing to EmeiShan (Mt.Emei). The photographs in this file are those from our first day of travel on the mountain. We did not go to the summit until the next day.
This is just one of 7 photographic files published at Kingscalendar in relation to my Summer Holiday in SiChuan in 2007. At the end of this article is a complete list of photographic articles in relation to SiChuan (2006 & 2007), including links to 3 Text and photographic articles published in my column at Magic City Morning Star News in Maine USA.
Photographs appear in the order in which they were actually taken.
The photographs presented here represent one afternoon's walk on Mt.Emei, to about 900 metres. Doesn't sound too high but believe me it was strenuous. The following day, we took the tour to the Summit.
In July 2007 I traveled to Macao and then on to Chengdu. My first trip took me to LeShan and Chengdu's Giant Sleeping Buddha. After that, I traveled with my friend Mingxing to EmeiShan (Mt.Emei). The photographs in this file are those from our first day of travel on the mountain. We did not go to the summit until the next day.
This is taken at the city entrance to the Park. The road runs right up to it. At night the locals gather in this square to hang out.
Waterfall at the Entrance and to the right of the arch above. The Museum is only a 100 metres up the stairs.
Sign at the City Entrance to the Park
Temple Scenic Area
The Baoguo Temple Scenic Area occupies 3.5 square kilometers. with the average elevation of 600 meters and the yearly average temperature of 16.6°C. Luofeng and Fenghuang Peak erect in opposite. the Tige Brook streams downward. the grand temples have been perfectly built on the banks. and the memorial archway stands by the road. As part of the scenic area. Baoguo Temple and Fuhu Convent are the major place for Buddhist praying activities in China. where include such landscapes as the No. 1 Mountain Pavilion. Evening Bell at Shengji Temple and Sunny Sky over Luofeng Monastery. Situated herein are Mt. Emei Museum as one of the ten largest museums and Lingxiu Hot Springs as the first outdoor Niton springs in our country. The cultural corridor of the Tiger Brook deeply features the characteristics of Confucian spread as well as the natural resources in Mt.Emei
Along the way to Baoguo Temple
Baoguo Temple Sichuan built in 1573 in Wanli year of Ming Dynasty. (From Jongo - Portal of China)
Shengji Wanzhong (Shengji Bronze Bell)
Shengji Wanzhong (Shengji Bronze Bell)
This bronze bell weighs 12500 kilograms and has a height of 2.3 meters. It is said to be "King of Bells in Sichuan", and is well perserved as a valuable cultural relic.
I tink I tor a forina
Baoguo Temple - Exterior and Interior
Reflections.
Socialist Viewpoints about Honor & Disgrace
This comes from some signs posted on the roadway between Baoguo Temple and Fuhu Temple.
Take loving our homeland as an honor, regard endangering our homeland as a disgrace;
Take serving the people as an honor, regard deviating from the people as a disgrace;
Take advocating science as an honor, regard being benighted as a disgrace;
Take hard work as an honor, regard loving ease and hating work as a disgrace;
Take uniting and helping each other as an honor, regard harming others to benefit ourselves as a disgrace;
Take being honest and promise-keeping as an honor, regard benefiting ourselves without returning as a disgrace;
Take observing discipline and laws as an honor, regard violating laws and discipline as a disgrace;
Take hard work and struggle as an honor, regard extravagant and dissipated as a disgrace.
Ten Do's
Law-abiding.
Honesty and Good credits.
Courteous treatment toward customers.
Fair competition, excellent service.
Operation with overall business certificates.
Reasonable and transparent charges.
Excellent goods at reasonable prices.
Honest dealing.
Tolerance.
Complete, neat facilities.
Ten Don'ts
Don't operate illegally
Don't discount illegally
Don't swindle
Don't jack up or beat down prices
Don't operate without certificates
Don't compete unfairly
Don't sell seconds at best quality price
Don't sell fake and inferior commodities
Don't speak impolitely
Don't put disorderly.
Contact number for complaint (0833) 5533355
Fuhu Temple - Exterior and Interior
Built in Tang Dynasty, Fuhu Temple originally called "God Dragon Hall". (Jongo's Portal of China)
A Prophetic Photograph The lighting makes it appear that I have blond hair. After I returned to Suzhou I decided to get my hair lightened a little. Boy was that a mistake.
A Brief Introduction to Huxi Tinquan (Melody of the Huxi Brook)
The Huxi Brook. also called the Fuhu Brook. zigzags in the woods and valleys. among rocks. under bridges. and over moss-covered paths. When traveling here. you can appreciate the melody created by the brook.
We met these two American ladies (Left-front). Actually Mingxing was ahead of me and when I caught up to him he was talking to them. I told them that I write for Magic City Morning Star News and asked if I could take a photograph of them. They apparently read the Keene Sentinel (New Hampshire?) and asked if I could send a photo to that paper. We had a colourful conversation about mistakes students make when speaking. They are apparently teachers although I did not actually ask. I did ask their names but they avoided answering, and I got the impression that they might be Catholic Nuns? They were in Sichuan for some Yoga convention. The full facial photo can be found in my article Photos for the family.
Chunyang Monastery - Architectural Emphasis.
We had been climbing and climbing and climbing stairs and trails and were exhausted. Although I had taken plenty of sports drinks with me, I had run out, and was desperate for a rest and something to drink. We had no idea how far away the Chuanyang Monastery was, and so when we came to a little shop, I insisted we stop for a drink. I decided that I would like a cup of Tea. How much does a cup of tea cost? Well I didn't ask. Imagine my surprise when they charged 20 rmb per cup.
To top off my disgust, when we got up to leave, we discovered that the Temple was next door, and could have bought a cheap drink from any of the stalls there.
Chuanyang Monastery
These next two photographs were taken because of my interest in architecture
Inside out View.
Scenic Spendour
Photos don't do justice to the impression of the multitude of Misty mountains on the horizon
Shengshui Pavilion
We didn't end up going in.
The exterior of Shengshui pavilion was more interesting. Mingxing and I offered up incense about 20 metres from this point. See: Photos for the Family
Near the Shengshui Pavilion
Da e Shiyin (Carvings in Mr.Emei)
At Shengshuige, there are stone carvings of poems and legends, recording the love of poets and worshipers in history for the beautiful mountain.
Zhongfeng Temple
Zhongfeng apparently means: "halfway up the mountain"
This was not really a wealthy place but it had lovely surrounds. We saw one very old monk and a very young apprentice.
They obviously grow their own food. There is a photo at "Photos for the family" which shows me sitting in front of a red arch wearing a green thing around my neck. That was at the steps leading down to this temple.
From the Zhongfeng Temple we made our way back down the mountain as far as the Wu Xian Gang bus station,(located up the mountain) and took a bus back down the mountain to our hotel. We had spent about 6 hours climbing. The next day, we took the tour to the Summit, two photos of which appear below.
In this file I merely present photographs accompanied by a sign at Du Fu Thatched Cottage park, and a sample of Du Fu's poems. I hope you enjoy this presentation. At the end are some links to other articles and photographic files at Magic City and KingsCalendar. The Relic Exhibition Hall is the most important Part of Du Fu Thatched Cottage. It is located on the site of Du Fu's former Residence. In the late winter of 759, Du Fu went to Chengdu to avoid the disasters caused by An Lushan Shi Rebellion. In the next year, he built a thatched cottage on the bank of the beautiful Huanhua Brook, where he lived for four years and wrote more than 240 poems.
Really, we only went there to eat pizza at Carole's Restaurant, but noting a few changes in the area, decided to take a few new shots. From the vantage point on the upstairs balcony of the restaurant, I started off the process by taking photos of people in the street who kept pointing out the foreigner
Rushing out from behind the rocks. the black and white streams meet at the foot of Niuxin Pavilion. Falling from the high hills. both streams are roaring to create a magnificent melody. Wannian Temple is also called Baishui where there is a pond by the name of Baishui Pool. In each autumn, leaves get red and fall down onto the pool. Wind sometimes blows red leaves to flutter on the surface of the pool, which turns out to be a tourist attraction.
Unless you intend to hike 3000 metres; to get to the top of EmeiShan you need to book a tour. In the wee hours of the morning you will be transported up the mountain. First port of call is the entry station, where you will disembark, pay your Mt. Emei ticket fee, have your photograph taken, and receive your valid for 2 days photographic ticket.
In July 2007 I traveled to Macao and then on to Chengdu. My first trip took me to LeShan and Chengdu's Giant Sleeping Buddha. After that, I traveled with my friend Mingxing to EmeiShan (Mt.Emei). The photographs in this file are those from our first day of travel on the mountain. We did not go to the summit until the next day.
In the temple, there are many places of cultural and historical interest. Tianwang (Heavenly Kings) Hall, Guanyin Hall, Wuyou Hall and the Arhat Hall are solemn in ancient style, Kuangyi Pavilion is charm and elegant. On Erya Terrace you can overlook the river, while in Tingtao Pavilion, you can enjoy the music of the current. If you want to see how the three rivers meet go to Jingyun Pavilion; to enjoy flowers, butterflies and singing birds, go to the Plum Garden. What is mostly worth mentioning is that it is the temple and the hill on which it stands that form the hesd of the Giant Sleeping Buddha.
Many people say that my cursive Chinese writing is just terrible scribble. Now I know that they are just jealous because I have mastered a unique form of calligraphy. Du Fu Selected Poems Translated by Rewi Alley Foreign Languages Press 2001
These next two shots were taken at the corner store in Chibi town after we had finished with the museum tour. We had an hour to wait, and this gave the townsfolk the opportunity to gather around. At one point in time, we were surrounded by 36 people, but I must point out that people kept leaving and being replaced by others. This is a photograph of myself standing at the lookout at the Museum park at Chibi town (not PuQi). It shows me pointing to the Barge Landing on the Hong Hu side of the Yangtze River. Xin Di where I live and Teach is only 20 minutes drive from the barge crossing by the main road, and about 10 minutes via the levee road
Realising that this was a 'security' situation, I decided that it was probably unwise to stand around with my hands in my pockets, and deliberately removed them, keeping my hands in plain sight at all times. While quite conscious of the fact that the uniform police in every direction were discreetly keeping an eye on me, it nevertheless was a surprise when the Chinese Secret Serviceman confronted me, although from the man's first step in a 15 metre walk, I knew instinctively who he would be. He pulled out his credentials, and speaking in reasonably good English, informed me that he was a Policeman; advised me that he had been watching me for 20 minutes; and wanted to know what I was doing there
Being an organisation relying of public support, you can well imagine their financial difficulties, but as they point out, "Surgical costs in China are so much lower than in other parts of the world", that "no gift is too small when it involves the health of a child". They are currently attempting to raise funds to build an extension to the 'Hope Foster Home' in Beijing, in order to care for critically ill and disabled children - you know! - the ones that absolutely nobody wants
Hong Hu is about 3 hours (165 Kms) South of Wuhan, (the Capital of Hubei), and is located on the Chang Jiang (Yangtsze) River. Did you expect some wonderful description to follow? Apart from, 'It is in the middle of nowhere, and is an old and dirty town (their words) although fast transforming into a modern city' there is really not much to say. It does have Lotus park and a lake which are very famous (in Hong Hu) but then again so am I. Have you ever heard of me? There you go then! (Actually the Lake is famous for a battle during the Liberation War - Communist vs. Guomingdang - KMT)
You will arrive at Taipa House Museum Area with so much to see. If you want to go into the Museum you must pay. But there is also much to see outside. This is a museum beside the A-Ma Temple on Macao Island. This sits on the waterfront and you can see Zhuhai in China across the harbour.
I once had someone write me to say that there was no such thing as Murphy's Law but that my personal 'negativity', my belief - if you will, was drawing all the negative energy of the universe into my life and thus I was creating all my own bad luck. Wow! Who knew I could have such power! - Two weeks later I decided to return to Jiaxing to take some photos. At the North Bus Station in Suzhou I bought my ticket and while waiting for the bus, noticed that my destination in Jiaxing was the 'Central' bus station. When I arrived, I was totally lost and had to call my friends and ask them how to get to their place.
Mt. Tai is located in the center of Shandong Province, lying across the cities of Tai'an, Jinan and Zibo. Its main peak, Jade Emperor Summit, which is within Tai'an City, is about 1532.7 meters (5,029 feet) high. The mountain was once called Mt. Daishan, Mt. Daizong or Mt. Taiyue and was renamed Mt. Taishan in the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC). It epitomizes splendid Chinese culture and was listed in the World Natural and Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO in 1987
John received the inspiration from his time working in Shanghai as a bartender in the early 90's and watching old-Western movies, in particular those starring Clint Eastwood in his youth. He learned English by serving foreigners and conversing with them. Foreign patrons told him about the bars in Europe and the United States.
This Stele is made of Shandong Jiaxiang Blue Stone, and composed of stele cap, stele body and stele pedestal. Its facade is engraved with Zhang Ji's (Tang Dynasty) poem To Moor at Night at the Maple Bridge inscribed by Yu Yue (Qing Dynasty); while the back is engraved with The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra (Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra in Sanskrit) handwritted by Emperor Qianlong (Qing Dynasty).
Designed by Lu Yanzhi, a famous architect, the construction of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum began in March 1926 and ended in the spring of 1929. It is 700 meters from the Memorial Archway to the coffin chamber with 10 terraces and 392 steps between them, and the falling head reaches 70 meters. The main buildings of the mausoleum include the memorial archway, the mausoleum gate, the tablet pavilion, the sacrificial hall and the coffin chamber. On June 1, 1929, a grand burial ceremony was held at the mausoleum which is shaped like an alarm bell, symbolizing Dr. Sun Yat-sen's unyileding spirit in fighting to arouse people and salvage the nation. - In the center of this map with the blue roof is Sun Yatsen's Mausoleum. To the right is the Linggu Pagoda and to the left of the Sun Yatsen's Mausoleum is the Ming Tomb area. As you can see there are many other places to see. There is also Purple Mountain at the very top of the picture, access to which can be gained by a cable way
Any teacher who is legitimately employed, and properly registered, is able to pack up and leave if the going gets tough, but any teacher whose 'bona fides' (as a foreigner living and working in Baotou) are not legitimately established, could find themselves being deported from China. I would hope that all the problematical behavior of management at EET has long since changed, and that they are currently fulfilling their legal obligations. I would hope that anyone who goes to work there would be well treated or at least not abused, cheated or lied to. But foreigners who to write to me to ask my advice are either 'plants' working for EET or just plain foolish.
Today, I am using a recent letter from Jerry, to tell a story – a sad story. It is a story rooted in Ancient and Modern Chinese Culture. It is a story of an impossible love. It is a story I have heard so many times before, of families who refuse to allow their children to love whom they will. It is a story about how in the 21st century, Chinese children must still obey their parents and marry the one of whom the parents approve.
One would think that based on those two great truths that the Commonwealth Bank would have the organizational and managerial flexibility to deal with any situation to arise, but apparently they do not - OR - they don't wish to! But you just have to wonder if at the end of the day, the whole issue is not just about "a shortage of competent staff" and a lack of good old fashioned customer service.
American Chinese cuisine is not quite the same as regular homestyle cooking back in Mainland China. I think that it might be wise to bring a Mainland Chinese cook back with you, unless you are ready to install a MacDonald's restaurant on site. But a major problem that I think Dr. Smith is likely to encounter, is that far too many Chinese students who have passed the International Language Tests in order to study overseas, arrive on campus without any ability at all to understand what is spoken, or to be able to speak English. Such is the state of those tests.
A common thread running throughout Yang Guangyou's work life is that employers expect and demand so much of him but have consistently discriminated against him because he has no college degree. He is a diligent worker, professional in his various supervisory positions and is quite at home conversing in English. As of December 2011, he is again unemployed. (January 6, 2012 - Received word that he is working in Tianjin.) Jerry's Story: When a boy is around the age of 20, his parents will find a person to introduce a girl to him as a wife. At this time the family of the male part will give 10000 to 20000 [rmb] to the family of the female part. Generally speaking , they will not change the relationship once it is built. After that, the family of the male part will collect money for the wedding, 20000 RMB maybe. But that is not enough because the female part usually ask for a new house which can be built around 100,000 RMB in that place.
With something like a 70% Rural Population, many kids grow up in the countryside, in tiny little villages, or larger but still small towns. They run, play, fish and swim in the nearby fields and streams. Probably most don't have running water in their homes, and certainly not bathrooms. The outhouse is literally the outhouse, and the waste will run off into some fish pond or similar.
In China, the rights of society take precedence over individual human rights. This, we Westerners call totalitarianism and from an ideological perspective, desire to destroy it right? But ask yourself this: "What does MY country promote?" In China, there are many social problems that similarly exist in your country, and these are slowly being dealt with. But it seems to me that while China's totalitarian regime is focused on making China a 'harmonious society', that in the west, everything is aimed at promoting sectarian interests which divide society.
, 2006My Student friend has already 'cheated' in 4 exams this school year. Well, he doesn't actually 'cheat', he just 'pretends' to be someone else, and does their exams for them. It's a simple process really. They merely substitute photographs in their identity cards. The first thing I had to tell him was that the reason I seem so happy, is that if I allowed myself to be controlled by all the 'negatives' that surround me, I would have to quit my job and go home. 'The Secret of Being Happy', I informed him, 'is that happiness comes from within you. It is not the result of happy experiences.'
You may find this hard to believe, but Chinese students can memorise a 20 minute monologue - perfectly. They memorise their lesson texts. They might understand nothing. They certainly cannot commence at paragraph two or three: they must start from the first word and go through to the end. However, they can memorise perfectly. So this is what these two girls did.
Chinese Students: Chinese Youth: Problems of Chinese Young People. This file was intended to be added to on a regular basis. Unfortunately it wasn't. The friendship with Mingxing has however continued, and as can be seen in the photographs in the Confucious Temple article listed above.
Definition: King's Calendar Chronological Research
The Premise: Between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE (but continuing down to at least 104 BCE), Sectarian redactors transcribed the legitimate 'solar year' chronological records of Israel and Judah, into an artificial form, with listed years as each comprised of 12 months of 4 weeks of 7 days, or 336 days per year, thus creating a 13th artificial year where 12 solar years existed.
When the Synchronous Chronological Data provided in the Books of Kings and Chronicles for the Divided Kingdom Period are measured in years of 336 days, the synchronisms actually align. [Refer to Appendix 5. to see how it synchronises the Divided Kingdom Period]
About the KingsCalendar Publisher
R.P.BenDedek is the owner and Editor of KingsCalendar.com which was originally set up to publicize his research results into the Chronology of Ancient Israel. Those results were published under the title: 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran'.
Whilst there have been many attempts to solve the chronological riddle of the Bible's synchronisms of reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah and their synchronism with other Ancient Near Eastern Nations, no other research is based on a simple mathematical formula which could, if it is incorrect, be disproved easily. To date, no one has been able to dismiss the mathematical results of this research.
Free to air Academic articles set forth Apologetics for and results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
During the current economic downturn, this book has been drastically reduced in price but will eventually rise as the economy improves.
Check the Chapter Precis Page to see details of each chapter and to gain access to the Four Free to Air Chapters
R.P. BenDedek writes social commentaries and photographic 'Stories from China' both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing columnist at Magic City Morning Star News in Maine USA.
(He has been teaching Conversational English in China since 2003 and currently (2013) is teaching in Suzhou City Jiangsu Province.)
