Friday, December 12, 2008
Lawrence Lo @ Xian Jiaotong University, Mainland China (from CityU) 17 - 21 November 2008
Monday, 17 November 2008
After the mid-semester exam, I decided to go traveling to Xinjiang with my friend who is an exchange student from Taiwan to Xian. The train to Jiayuguan will take 23 hours, so we need to sleep in the train overnight. This is the first time that I need to sleep in the train overnight.
After the mid-semester exam, I decided to go traveling to Xinjiang with my friend who is an exchange student from Taiwan to Xian. The train to Jiayuguan will take 23 hours, so we need to sleep in the train overnight. This is the first time that I need to sleep in the train overnight. The condition of the train is better than what I expected before. During the trip, the view outside the window is really beautiful, unforgettable and wonderful. I enjoy the first day trip in the train and I am ready to enjoy more various experiences in the coming day.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Today, we arrived in Jiayuguan at 4 a.m. We need to stay in the train station until the sun rise because we have not booked the hotel yet. The weather is only -4℃. I have never felt so cold like that, so I have to put all my clothes I have on.
At 8 a.m., we hired a taxi to take us to the scenic spots. Jiayuguan is the western starting point of the Great Wall. It was built in 1372 and over 600 years olded now. When I stand in the Jiayuguan, I feel great and excited. Although it is a brown building only, it contains the valuable Chinese history behind. I am glad to see such a historic building.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Our second station is Dunhuang. The most famous scenic spots is the Dunhuang Mogao Caves. There are 45000 historic frescoes in 492 caves. Mogao Cave was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-581 BC), the peak of its culture was during the Tang Dynasty, then continued until its eventual abandonment during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368).However, most of the frescoes are stolen and broken by people for different reasons. Now only ten caves are open for the visitors. Most of the frescoes are about the Buddhism and the Buddhist story. All the art of the frescoes are amazing and unbelievable for me. How the Chinese people in the past can create and imagine something great like that. Amazing!!
Thursday, 20 November 2008
The third day of the trip, we go to Turpan which is a key stop on the Silk Road. We arrive at 7 a.m. Since we do not plan to stay here overnight, we decide to hire a car which can bring us to all the scenic spots within a day. We spend 500 RMB for hiring the car. In Turpan, there are eight famous places including flaming mountains, Jiaohe, the Baizeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and etc.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
The third day of the trip, we go to Turpan which is a key stop on the Silk Road. We arrive at 7 a.m. Since we do not plan to stay here overnight, we decide to hire a car which can bring us to all the scenic spots within a day. We spend 500 RMB for hiring the car. In Turpan, there are eight famous places including flaming mountains, Jiaohe, the Baizeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and etc.We two spend most of the time in Jiaohe because it was a valuable and historic ancient ruined city in China.
It was founded some 2,000 years ago. The site retains clearly distinguishable temples, pagodas and other buildings, including a Buddhist monastery at the center of the city. It is physical evidence to show the life of the people lived in 2000 years ago. Today, not many tourists come visit here because the peak traveling season is over, so we two can walk slowly and look carefully. It is really enjoyable for me to follow the steps of the people lived in 2000 years ago. Moreover, I find the people in Xinjiang are very beautiful and handsome. They look like Europeans such as Turk.
Friday, 21 November 2008
Today, we need to spend 24 hours to Kashi by train again. Kashi is the farthest city where the train can reach the west of China.
This trip on the train is the hardest experience during the traveling. The place I sleep on is very short so that I am unable to sit normally on the bed. The condition is terrible for a tall gay such as me. I can not enjoy a good dream over the night and feel very sick after three hours… TERRIBLE!!UNCOMFORTABLE!!UNFORGETTABLE!!
Labels: 2008/2009 Semester A
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