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girllovescomic · 4 years

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Winter Begonia Episode 6 recap

One of my favorite episode, it is in my eyes when Cheng Fengtai (Er Ye) truly falls for our little singer, Shang Xirui. He was already attracted to him, evidenced by the gaze, but this is what tips him over the line from infatuation to love. This is also an episode where you see how the opera lyrics are integral to the plot.

We hear Er Ye’s internal thoughts as he watches the opera, engrossed in Shang Lao Ban’s interpretation of Yang Guifei. He tells that when one leaves the Palace for Eternal Youth (the name of the Opera), they can see their lives in the story or some similarities between them and the character, but for him it goes deeper. He sees the helplessness and compromise he and his family had to make due to circumstances. For him, he had to give up his literary dreams and return home (from Europe, I presume) to take the family business which had been in ruin. He had no idea what he was doing because he was young, having to deal with creditors taking away everything, their employees leaving them and his sister Meixin forced to marry the Commander Cao and leave the man she loved, so they can settle some debts. Apparently, this was not enough, leading him to marry Fan Xian aka Er Nainai, who turns out had a lucrative career as a businesswoman that she was forced to becoming a housewife, confined inside the mansion walls to raise their children. By the way, can we command the way Huang Xiaoming speaks English? He even speaks better than the white girl talking to him. LOL.

The play, or specifically the way SXR sings it exposes all the emotions he had pushed aside as he realize that in life you cannot always do what you want, that sometimes the hand of fate forces you to make choices that goes against your dreams, making you suffer silently as you bite your lips and trudge through life. Ooof, I felt that one to my core. We go back to Shang Lao Ban singing what appears to be sad song. CFT is completely absorbed, to the point of tears as he resumes his narration.

To him, Xirui’s Yang Guifei is unwilling to submit to fate, to kill herself because the courtiers ask her to, but freely choosing to sacrifice herself

In one of the most beautiful sequence that made me weep, we see SXR as Yang Guifei standing afar from CFT talking to each other, the white cloth falling on the floor. She (talking about Yang Guifei) is reaching out to him, which makes him look around wondering if he is the one she wants. He tells her that it is her life, he can’t help her; she responds that she does not need his help, she just wants to look at her. He laments that she did not need to die as long as she was willing to accept her status, but she responds what was she supposed to let go of. He replies that should have taken conformed to the hand of fate, like he did, but to her that would have been meaningless. He tries to stop her from killing herself, but she replies that if she delays it more, she might start to regret it. We go back to the present time and CFT is weeping, clearly affected. Sigh, what a scene. I am crying while typing this.

SXR is doing his thing, marveling the audience, who are equally moved. With everyone gone, CFT is alone in his VIP box, thinking of his mother, who left to pursue her dreams as her singer instead of being confined in her role as mother and wife. CFT finally understands why his mother made that decision to go back to her love of the opera, as he walks dazed.

SXR watches as CFT walks dazed to his house. He is so struck, he doesn’t even see or hear anyone, not his wife nor his household manager. The man is completely gone, his mind still on his vision of Yang Guifei.

Again, we are privy to his thoughts and he tells us that SXR not only portrays Yang Guifei but embodies her, not simply acting her out, but being a living and breathing embodiment of the tragic concubine, like a reincarnation. OOOOF, this is poetry! As an aside, this scene was in the novel as well, although not as poetic. He stands in the courtyard as snowfall as if in a dream-like state, stumbling through his house, much to the other’ consternation.

Still in a daze, CFT is sitting and humming to himself. Through a conversation between his wife and the annoying maid, it has been a half day he’s been in this position and that he has not gone to any of his social functions, discuss business or play mahjong, for the past couple of days, completely uninterested in anything. The annoying maid of course has to run her mouth, claiming that at least Er Ye stays at home instead of being seduced by girls. I swear this girl has a one-track mind. He has been seduced, but not some women, but by an adorable opera singer who can lift his soul. Er Nainai responds that she doesn't care about this nonsense, she feels uneasy by this version of her husband. She clearly knows the annoying little maid can’t process such adult thinking and tells her so. I like this side of Er Nainai. Meanwhile, Er Ye’s mind is still on the songs and may I say, Huang Xiaoming looks absolutely gorgeous in it.

He tries to replicate the experience, but none of the records he pick come close to the original. Fan Lian is completely confused by his BIL’s reaction, wondering what he is looking for. Like a lovestruck teenager who has discover her first pop idol, CFT confesses that he wants to hear Shang Xirui. Fanboy Fan Lian tells him that he has some of SXR records, and will lend it to him, but that is not what CFT is really looking for.

Me, when I hear shitty house music

He tells his BIL that when SXR is on stage he is a completely different person, as if he just walked out of book or an opera script. Fan Lian tells him that he said something similar to SXR, “Body in the mortal realm, but spirit in the performance.” Ooof, I wished I could write something like that in my stories. He adds that of course, it’s a simplistic way to describe the singer’s performance, especially when taking into account his irascible personality and his nebulous past with his cousin. But he adores the man’s talent, so he is able to ignore all that. I completely understand bro. I have a lot of celebrities that I enjoy their work, but dislike their personalities. Sometimes you have to separate the art from the man/woman.

CFT tells him that is not what he cares about, since he has no understanding of the art form, but he actually cares about the man’s spirit, which he finds special. Well, someone is smitten. He finds it refined, rich and sensitive. He is not only a performer who is amazing at what he does, but compare to him, everyone else are mere mortals. This goes above Fan Lian’s head. The look on CFT’s face says it all; this is a man who has fallen in love, so yeah, Fan Lian, you can’t understand what he is talking about or feeling.

Dressed up in a fabulous attire and strutting his stuff, while his wife looks on, relieved that he is finally leaving the house, he goes out to find SXR. Er Nainai tells Meixin that she used to be uneasy whenever Er Ye left the house, but now she is relieved that he is going out, as long as his heart is with his family. You might end up regretting those words.

Meanwhile, SXR is facing another crisis as the opera singer who he was replacing while he was out sick as suddenly decided to come back, probably because he is jealous at the success our little divo is having. Xiao Lai can’t believe this bullshit, especially since they are running out of place to perform.

Waiting like a teenage boy for his crush, CFT is standing next to his car, when he spots Shang Lao Ban coming out of the theater with Xiao Lai. He presses on the horn to get his crush’s attention and I swear this is the cutest thing ever. SXR sends away Xiao Lai who does not seemed to happy that her boss is spending time with the businessman. Shang Lao Ban asks Er Ye how long he has been waiting in the cold instead of coming backstage. CFT looks at him like a man in love looks at his object of affection. I am so jealous of this fictional character! Seriously, he is practically gazing at the other man, who can only smile and asks where they are going. Oh my, is this their first date? I squeal! He is taking him for an afternoon tea and actually wants to know what he would like to eat. Our little glutton tells him that he wants something sweet and opens the door to let him in. I need to pause for a second, tis tew much.

SXR is scarfing down on a chocolate cake and asks where Er Ye went after the show. He wants to have his opinion about his performance, which CFT tells him it was really great. In other operas, Yang Guifei would be forced to die at Mawei Station, but SXR version sang about willingly giving her life for love, turning the damsel into a hero. He was especially struck by one of the lyrics, which is the same lyrics SXR loves about the opera, brought to tears.

CFT flashes a 1000 watt smile upon hearing that and tells him that his performance of Palace of Eternal Youth does not resemble other version of this opera and should be called something else, like the Legend of the Flourishing Tang Dynasty. A little history background here. Yang Guifei was Emperor Ming of Tang’s favored concubine, whom he stole from his own son. Apparently he lavished her with gifts, built an expensive pavilion for her, neglecting his duties as an Emperor, so much so there was a rebellion. Wanting to stop the rebellion, the courtiers forced the Emperor to demand Yang Guifei to be killed as they saw her and her family as the reason for the unrest. Unlike the opera, she does not kill herself, but is killed by Gao Lishin and her body brought to the head of the rebellion as proof of her death. However, the marks the slow decline of the dynasty..

SXR is confused by what CFT is saying, not grasping the meaning behind the title. CFT explains that Palace of Eternal Youth is a love story between to high status people confined by their roles, that of an Emperor and his consort. They have to abide to what his expected of them in their respective roles. The play not only depicts this confinement, but also the rise and fall of a nation. SXR version of the play since about a flourishing dynasty yet it is focus on a tragedy of sacrifice, which could be reflected in 1930s China before the horrors of the occupation and the valiant resistance from both communists and nationalists to oust the invaders. This goes above the uneducated SXR who explains to CFT that in the second act of the play, Yang Guifei had angered the Emperor in a fit of jealousy , but afterwards made up. The reason for the disagreement was due to the fact the Emperor was enamored with another woman called JIang Caiping, feeling Yang Guifei sacrificed herself for no reason. CFT sees a parallel between SXR situation with Mengping and his story. SXR tells him that indeed he sees himself in the stories he sings. CFT tells him that he understands as he used to see that opera performers were similar to their characters, but when he saw SXR performed Yang Guifei, he was more than a mere embodiment but was the actual person, which makes SXR sees that CFT understands his performance in depth, and adds that he was using his soul to perform. This gets CFT to smile, one that I bet even his wife never seen. It is a naked smile what they shows his true emotion. We are witnessing the connection of two souls here and it's a beautiful thing. Once again, how this past censorship is beyond me.

Look at this smile!

Meanwhile the troupe is waiting. I have a feeling Xiao Lai told the troupe their leader had left with Er Ye. As soon as the duo appears, everyone stands up in attention. SXR shouts to Xiao Lai to warm up some wine, while Shi Jiu is trying her best to put her flirt on. Oh sis, you are wasting your time. The man is not interested.

She comments that finally her boss is seeing the light, associating himself with Commander Cao’s BIL is the next best thing than getting the actual man to dispel the rumors and help them out of their desperate situation. The duo chat some more, over wine, talking about the difference between Western Opera and Eastern Opera performers, especially the castrato. They talk about skills needed to be a good singer. They get drunk, so much so that SXR and are hilarious.

SXR is in his first costume he ever used when performing and despite being average compared to now, he considers it his most prized one; it is his armor, his guts. I have to say it is a beautiful piece, showcasing the meticulous work put in Eastern embroidery and their use of pearls.

CFT reveals that he wrote a story when he was in school abroad. SXR says he is not surprised since he can see that Er Ye understands the art on a deeper level and why they are connecting. CFT tells him of his story, which is about a woman who eloped with a man she loved, but who abandoned. While she waited at home, she had many lovers, who came and gone, until the woman finally realize that she didn’t need these men in her life. They were just a passing folly, not dependable to ensure her happiness and that by controlling her fate, she can do so. She went on to open her own weaving shop, taking in widows and orphans and went on to have great success, so much so, she was asked by the Empress to make her clothes. Damn, that is a freaking good story! They laugh and SXR thinks the morale of the story is that for a woman to control her fate, she needs money. Hmm.. aren’t we all? Shang Lao Ban reminds might be too progressive for Beijing Opera; instead the protagonist would be killed. CFT tells him that stories transcends culture or gender which seems to make SXR teary. As a performer, he is seen as the dregs of Chinese society, lower than a prostitute, despite the fame. I bet he wished to live in a world that would dispense of this hierarchical structure and see his profession respected by those in higher status. He tells CFT that he would love to play this type of woman, and I am hoping this is a hint of collaboration between the two. I actually would love to see him play this kind of character.

The troupe is eavesdropping, hoping their leader would hit up CFT’s wallet to help them out when Lao Ge comes in looking for his boss. They push him out, claiming Cheng Er Ye is not inside. Shi Jiu says they should keep anyone from interrupting since it might be their only opportunity; Dashen replies that it depends on their leader’s abilities to charm beg Cheng Er Ye for help.

Meanwhile, the duo is still discussing opera. Er Ye does not understand that for the sake of expediency, why not only wear a mask like the Japanese kabuki performers do, which would save time on makeup. This appears to make SXR laugh hard. He tells Er Ye that it is not the same thing because you will not be able to see the facial expression, which are an integral part of the opera. Wearing a mask is like being a ghost on stage, a bit like dubbed voices take away the essence of the emotions conveyed by the actors (any C drama fans would understand).

They drink again and SXR reveals this has been the happiest day since he came to Beijing. He never expected to become kindred spirits with Commander Cao’s BIL. CFT ponders about the title, which constrains me like the rest of his life. But SXR sees through the facade of a man who seems powerful and wealthy, like the fictional character, General Gao Yaonei who took Lin Chong’s wife, but turns out to be a good person, while CFT also had the wrong picture of Shang Lao Ban as an arrogant prima donna on the cray cray side, but is actually a good person as well. Shang Lao Ban is asleep and he looks so cute. The troupe is still standing at the door when a drunk Cheng Er Ye stumbles out. The troupe does not want to let him go back home and convince him to stay by claiming their leader would beat him up if he leaves without saying goodbye. Lol these sneaky mofos. It actually succeed and Cheng Er Ye returns to sleep with our adorable Shang Lao Ban. They have no idea they are helping the ship sail.

Meanwhile, the weasel family(Jiang father and son) are discussing SXR financial problems and the fact he had to pawn his costume to pay the rent. They are jubilating at the difficulties Shuiyin troupe is facing, especially since they are a big one and there are bound to have problems as morale starts to get low and the funds disappears. With losing his spot at the theater and not being shrewd, he will have problems raising money, leading to his own people turning against him. Its the next day and the member wants to know how his chat with Cheng Er Ye went, in the hope they got themselves a rich sponsor. SXR is like “the hell are you talking about? What difficulties?” Then it dawns on him what they are asking and that angers him. He lets them know that his “friendship" with Er Ye is on a different level, one of being kindred spirits. He wouldn’t dare use him for money.

They grumble until CFT appears; he looks like he didn’t sleep on a cushy mattress like he has at home. CFT asks if SXR heard some rumbling noises last night and SXR asks if it hail last night. Judging from his face, he knows where this noise came from and Dashen confirms it was loud snoring. LOL. SXR is obfuscated, claiming he never snores. Xiao Lai brings out the rinse and CFT is also given one. As he is about to rinse his mouth, SXR breaks out in a voice exercise that makes CFT gulped the rinse. LOL There’s a competition between him and one of the merchant selling fried pancake. There’s a knock on the door and the merchant as left a piece of fried dough for Shang Lao Ban, claiming it as gift. He splits it and gives a piece to CFT, who can’t turn it down, but you can tell has no interest in putting this commoner’s food in his stomach. So boogie. While CFT struggles to eat the dough, SXR invites to take him somewhere fun, but the troupe goad Xiao Lai to remind SXR they have to clean out the backstage of the opera house, hoping CFT would hear about their troubles. SXR is having none of that, sending some of them to clean out their stuff. He clearly does not want to ask money from CFT and I can’t blame him. Money has a way to create unease and inequality, especially in a budding relationship/friendship. Once you owe someone money, it causes problem, especially when you have to pay it back. SXR leaves with CFT in tow, who still has not taken a bite of the fried dough, leaving it behind for the others. The way he drops the pancake and wipes his hand is so boogie, I cannot.

They walk through a street where many circus-like performers are showing their talent. They are walking so closely to each other already, le sigh. The area is called Tianqiao and someone in the Viki comments stated this is the closest to the amusement park date trope so prevalent in Asian dramas, and I couldn’t agree more. CFT compares it to the Shanghai’s Great World Amusement Park, confirming the statement above. It is apparently an entertainment and amusement arcade, which opened back in 1917. Shang Lao Ban reveals that he once sang there and despite the place having a roof which would carry his voice better, he prefers the open air of Tianqiao. Clearly not full from the friend pancake, he goes and buys persimmon cake. Geez where does the food go?! He offers one to Er Ye who, of course, turns it down.

Look how close they are walking!!!

Unbeknown to him, he is the victim of a pickpocket. Trying to get his money to buy cigarette (hmm... wait, this is far more unhealthy than the greasy food Shang Lao Ban is offering you bro!), he realizes what happened. Our kung fu penguin goes after the thief and kicks ass. Seriously, he is amazing. CFT looks like he is enjoying seeing his crush fighting skill, especially he is far more proficient with a gun than his fists. He gets the money back and tells the thief to leave. CFT asks why he didn’t take the thief to the cops, but SXR tells him the way of the street is that if a thief got his ass kicked, that is sufficient punishment. CFT asks about his kung fu skills, saying it is is good looking (Ohhh); SXR reveals it is a skill that has been passed down from his father, the Shang Family Rod, a type of martial arts that is different from the fake fighting on stage that can do real damage. CFT comments that SXR must have been beaten a lot when he was a child, which the singer admits. If you seen Farewell My Concubine, you know the abuse these kids go through to become performers. It is gross. SXR invites CFT to continue with their walk and this is where it ends.

Ooof, this episode was heavy in emotion and exposition. I truly think this is where the infatuation Cheng Fengtai had developed for our little divo turns into love and where Shang Xirui gets to see the shrewd businessman has someone who possesses a similar artistic passion who had to give it up for circumstances out of his control. He is like the real Yang Guifei who was forced to accept her fate and be killed by Gao Lishi, whereas Shang Xirui of the opera who chose to sacrifice herself for her love, giving himself fully to his passion. We are also seeing how much the troupe is suffering because of the rumored feud with Commander Cao, which sets up lots of conflicts that will set up the end of our act 1 and push our protagonists to make a decision that will forever change their lives.

#winter begonia #shang xirui #cheng fengtai #andrew yin #Yin Zheng #spoilers #episode recap #episode 6 #huang xiaoming #please watch it #beautiful drama

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2traveldads-blog · 7 years

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Seriously, I could write about China all day every day. Thinking about what areas of China to visit, people will probably research what spots are going to have the best tourist sites or most famous Chinese landmarks. If that’s the approach you’re taking, then no doubt you’re going to be pointed towards the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin. Or maybe you’ll find the deadliest hike on earth and plan on climbing Huashan (so cool!). Either of these are going to put you in Shaanxi province and you’ll have countless options for amazing experiences in China! That’s why we thought it would be good to have a Xi’an city guide.

Firstly, know that there are two different states in China called “Shaanxi”. We are talking about the southern of the two which is where you’ll find Xi’an. They border each other, so who knows, you may even find yourself in both when you’re visiting China. Shaanxi is a large province, but it’s still less than half the size of California. Having said that, that’s kind of how to approach planning a trip through Shaanxi: think of the amount of time you’d need for a Northern California or SoCal roadtrip and boom; you’ll need the same amount of time for a trip around Shaanxi province. If you base your travels off our little Xi’an city guide you’ll be set!

Arrival in Shaanxi Province

Depending on where you are coming from you probably cannot get a direct flight into Xi’an, China. Flying through Beijing is a great option and is surprisingly affordable. For example: a round-trip flight from Seattle to Xi’an via Beijing is about $550 USD. If you ever book international travel, you know that a $500 range round trip ticket is a pretty good deal.

Tip: I flew Hainan Airlines with a layover in Beijing and had more room in my coach seat than any other international flight ever. Also, I received Mileage Plan miles with Alaska Airlines for the flight, so win!

Another way you might arrive in Shaanxi province is if you are already on a road trip through Central China. Getting to Xi’an may take you a few hours from once you’re in Shaanxi province though, so plan for traffic and lot’s of potty breaks.

As you look at our suggestions know that an itinerary needs to work for travelers and for their starting point, don’t just build a trip using this one idea. Adjust the suggestions in our Xi’an city guide based on your time, your starting point, your strongest interests and advice from others.

Touring Xi’an, the largest city in Shaanxi

Xi’an is such a cool City. The first thing that caught my eye was how big it was. The airport was as big as SeaTac here in Seattle but it turns out that Xi’an is nearly eight times the size of Seattle. Within the city you’ll find many interesting sites. You may be directed to any number of attractions, but not all are authentic or worth visiting. That’s why our Xi’an city guide isn’t crazy full of stuff. :)

Cultural History Museum in Xi’an

One of the sites we visited that was directly in Xi’an was the historical and cultural museum. If you don’t go to many museums you may be captivated and fascinated by most of what you’ll see there as it’s very different from what you’ll find in the museums in France or the United States. If you compare the quality of the exhibits, the cleanliness, and the number of people within small spaces in the museum you won’t be very impressed. Choose wisely as to if you want to spend time going through museum exhibits versus exploring the city.

Tip: a great phrase to have handy to let the Chinese folks around you know that you’re engaged and trying to immerse yourself in culture is “hěn yǒuyìsi,” which means “That’s interesting.” It’s fun to say and applies to almost everything you’ll encounter. Our buddy Richelle over at Adventures Around Asia shared this one!

Parks and Pagodas in Xi’an

Another way you can experience history is by going directly to the source. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was my favorite site within Xi’an (which is why it’s the MUST of our Xi’an city guide). Being more than a thousand years old and centered within a Buddhist complex, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was absolutely amazing. With smaller temples throughout, this site is worth an entire day. True, you can do it in 2 or 3 hours, but if you just want to relax and people watch as well as explore the many buildings, including a small museum on site, you could allot an entire day.

Directly next door to the giant Wild Goose Pagoda is the Tang Paradise Park. While some of the structures are much older, the colonnades, dragon fountains, and art installations are fairly recent. This is the site that emperors of ancient China would wander around following a visit to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda; they would enjoy their time there before returning to the Summer or Winter Palace, but most of those original structures are no longer found within the imperial gardens of the Tang Paradise. The site is amazing though. We were there for about two-and-a-half hours and could have easily spent five hours. It’s a half-day activity.

Note: certain sites in China require you to present a passport to be able to enter or even purchase an entry ticket. China is one country where traveling with your passport at all times is recommended, at least for this reason (and checking into hotels).

The Terracotta Warriors

I think it’s a safe bet to say that besides the Great Wall of China the Terracotta Warriors is the most famous site or tourist attraction within all of China. It’s totally understandable because they’re pretty darn cool. That was my first time ever visiting an active archaeological excavation and being able to watch people working with line tools uncovering pieces of the army as well as others reassembling… It was just so cool to see. The museum portions of the Terracotta Army Park were of a much higher quality than what we experience at the cultural and history museum. One of the things that really made the day fun when we went to the terracotta warriors with making a stop ahead of time in his Artisan shop where they make souvenirs relating to the Terracotta Army. We got to make our own Warriors as well as watch the process that was used nearly two thousand years ago.

Note: the actual National Park site is quite clearly the actual site. Don’t go to a knock off site or extra special tomb site or something. The Terracotta Warriors site is the only real one.

Also: this is a part of our Xi’an city guide because, although it feels like it’s far from the city, it’s truly a part of it. Xi’an is huge.

Biking the City Wall of Xi’an

The city wall of Xian is another fun sites to explore. And it’s more than just walking up to the wall and saying “There’s a wall…” we actually rented bikes and rode around the entire city wall except for a small portion where they were doing some re-construction. The city wall of Xian is the largest fully intact city wall in the world. It’s really really amazing. At night the bell towers and ramparts are lit up with colorful lights and spot lights. Even if you don’t have time to bike the entire wall you should be sure to be close to it at night for some really cool night time photo ops.

Tip: unless you have stellar balance, it might not be best to snap pics while riding a biking on a cobblestone elevated street. Pull over for actual photo ops and selfies. Or wear a GoPro for your ride and look at pics later.

Getting a dose of Chinese Culture

Something else that you want to be sure to do when you are in the city is to get your fill of culture and there are several ways to do it.

Actual Chinese Food

The easiest way to jump into culture is of course going and finding amazing food. FYI, the Chinese food you get in China is actually Chinese food. If you’re expecting something that you would get at a Chinese restaurant in America you are going to be shocked because American Chinese food is some sort of pretend concoction that people made up to try to make it so that Americans would eat some form of Chinese food.

Chinese food in China is beyond amazing and that’s all I can say about it. Things to look for in great Chinese food would be lotus root, dragon fruit, dumplings that have some sort of black sauce in them, anything with Sichuan peppercorns that make your tongue tingle, aubergine, aubergine, aubergine, eggplant… Can you tell that the food was bomb digity?

Tip: BUY STREET FOOD. OMG, how can you not? It’s everywhere and it’s so awesome. Whether you’re getting cotton candy or something that looks like an onion pancake but has a layer of meat, it’ll be good.

Note: I have a whole string of tummy issues and a bizarre medical history and eating in China was a piece of cake. In fact, eleven days of Chinese food was the best I’ve felt in years and I had ZERO moments where I thought I was going to die from the food. (I’m not a doctor though, so don’t think of me as a medical expert of any sort.)

Muslim Quarter Street Market

I’ll be the first to say that crowds aren’t my favorite thing, particularly when I’m in a really unfamiliar place, but OMG, the Muslim Quarter has be to included in our Xi’an city guide. Just look:

Every corner within the Muslim Quarter had something different to distract us. We spent so much time wandering and trying foods we’ve never seen before that we almost didn’t make it home that night. We visited the Muslim Quarter of Xi’an twice and I can confidently say that day or night, it’s an amazing place to wander through.

Tip: this is your chance to try everything you’ve seen on travel or food shows that you’ve never had at your fingertips. When are you going to find barbecued cuttlefish again?

Chinese Ballet

Another form of culture that you should seek out is theater. We went to an amazing Chinese ballet in a beautiful theater covered in silk tapestries with gold end crystal chandeliers and it was mind-numbingly colorful. The show we went to featured many different styles of Chinese dance comma a full-sized Chinese dragon, and really incredible traditional music. After a long day it was a bit of a sensory overload but it was absolutely incredible and the perfect way-2 get a feel of traditional Chinese culture.

Tip: if you’re planning on doing any photography, be ready to adjust your camera settings quickly. You’re expecting to shoot low-light photography, and you will, but then the stage is bright beyond bright, so be quick about it!

Modern and Ancient Art in China

Well, I wouldn’t have thought to seek out a contemporary art gallery on a trip to China. That was one of the final activities we did while in Xi’an. We had an English-speaking guide within the gallery who explained the different pieces and the artists creating them. From Modern political art making statements about the one child policy to mid-century art making honorary references to Mao Zedong there was quite the gambit. The Tangbo Museum Gallery was an awesome surprise.

We got to see a collection of historical art ranging over a thousand years which included some rare portrayals of women in power as well as really elaborate battle tapestries unlike any I’d seen anywhere ever. In the same museum we also got to sit down with an instructor and learn how to create Chinese characters using traditional walnut ink and a lot of patience. I really enjoyed that and would love to actually study Mandarin to understand the characters, the history of the language, and so much more. Chinese culture is fascinating.

Tip: if you see art that you’d like to bring home, either in a gallery or in a marketplace, get it. Art from your travels is an incredible, one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Day Trips out of Xi’an

Does anybody travel with the intent of staying just within city limits? No, except for maybe NYC. Xi’an is centrally located within Shaanxi province, so you’ll have lots of options. If you’re not touring the entire province, there are a few sights that can be done as day trips out of the city.

The Death Planks of Huashan

Before I actually got to the death planks I really didn’t know what to expect or if I would actually be able to walk across these fabled pieces of wood above some sort of Canyon. Well, the experience was amazing. About 2 hours outside of Xi’an is Huashan National Park. When you arrive you get to start your day with a bus ride along what seems like a never-ending zig-zah road. We were fortunate enough to get to sit in a group of retired Korean tourists who had brought their own DJ box along with them and we’re pumping K-pop all the way up the winding mountain. It was hilarious.

When we got to the end of the road we boarded our cable car and headed up up up up up until we were staring across valley after valley of granite cliffsides. We headed up countless stairs passing thousands of locks on the railings and hundreds upon hundreds of prayer tassels while we made our ascent to the South Peak of Huashan. We passed by so many temples and religious sites on the way to the top, each being so different and having a different purpose. At the very top prior to doing it the death planks there was a huge bell where you could pay the bellman, say a prayer, and then bang the largest bronze bell I’ve ever seen. It was an awesome experience.

Crossing the death planks wasn’t that scary. Well, coming back across them was scary because we had to circumnavigate around a pack of tourists who were terrified and barely able to move. I think that’s why this is the most dangerous hike on Earth: because of the tourists who have panic attacks more than a mile above the valley floor. You should still do it though.

Tip: bring water and cash (RMB). You’ll get thirsty and if you want to have a harness on your for crossing the death planks, you have to pay the piper.

Ancient and Modern Buddhism at the Famen Temple

Gosh, even though I loved the Tang Paradise and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda for their history and beauty the Famen Temple was jaw-dropping. When we first approached we thought we were going to some sort of bizarre Lego structure. It wasn’t. The Famen Temple complex is the perfect combination of modern Chinese architecture juxtaposed against one of the most ancient temples in China. Take a look at this place!

The purpose of this Buddhist complex is to house the finger bone of the original Buddha, as well as be a center of learning and tourism for those interested in Buddhism and its devout followers. The contrast between the two parts of the Famen Temple complex really helped me understand Buddhism, its history, and it’s modern practice. I really loved it and appreciated being brought to this site.

Tip: plan on eating at the Famen Temple, as there are street vendors in the area between the Heshi Dagoba and the ancient pagoda, as well as a Buddhist restaurant that it fully vegetarian.

Taibai Mountain and Baoji

How to write about this without chuckling.

So, the city of Baoji is hilarious. Picture a Las Vegas that is only neon and LED lights but also completely abandoned and yet still very well kept. And then add some really cool structures like dragons and small pagodas and waterfalls and bridges and… And then cover them all in lights. That’s what this town is like. The tourist area of Baoji exists for the purpose of people visiting from Xi’an who want to experience the hot springs which flow through a really incredible Hot Springs Resort. But there is also amazing, genuine Chinese massage and treatments too… um, which were awesome (as you can see).

The Hot Springs Resort at Baoji was really fun to explore and try every single type of hot springs Treatment available. I’m not sure if my favorite was the propulsion jet that shot your body with scalding hot water at rocket speeds or getting buried by 200 pounds of smooth muddy rocks. Or maybe it was sitting in a pool of semi-rotten floating apples. No, it was being fully immersed in a pool filled with fish that were eating all the little skin cells off of every part of my body. The Taibai Hot Spring Resort was bizarre and amazing and I want to go back. We have nothing like it in the United States; if we do, somebody’s got to tell me immediately.

Beyond the hot springs is Taibai Mountain National Park. We approached Taibai Mountain with the best intentions and highest hopes. Pandas. Taibai National Park is one of the areas where pandas roam freely and we were so hoping to get to spot one. As luck would have it, a freezing fog rolled in and we were stuck on the mountain at the top of the cable car line in -5 degrees celsius weather wearing shorts and ponchos. Poor planning on our part, but surprise, it’s China!

The drive along the way up the mountain was really truly beautiful though. Countless waterfalls and amazing temples along the river that we’re all accessible as we drove. There’s a bus that will take you all the way up the mountain and drop you at any of the points of interest, which we took full advantage of. And after a long freezing day up in the National Park what’s better than going back to the Hot Springs Resort? Nothing. It’s an amazing day trip or even a two-day trip.

Note: if you do Baoji and Taibai Shan National Park you’ll be experiencing an off-the-beaten-path area of China. True, it’s not far from Xi’an which does get many international visitors, but during our three days there, we were the only non-Chinese visitors we met.

There is much more to do in Shaanxi province, but for now, this will take care of planning if you want to stay based out of Xi’an. You’ll be able to get a great taste of culture, history and nature while you’re in Xi’an and will be completely primed for another trip to China soon after.

Xi’an City Guide: experiencing China’s history, nature and culture Seriously, I could write about China all day every day. Thinking about what areas of China to visit, people will probably research what spots are going to have the best tourist sites or most famous Chinese landmarks.

#Buddhism #city break #international travel #itinerary #Shaanxi #street market #Xian

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