The Chinese people seem to love dance, music, costumes, and dramatizations.....in a very big way! They have ancient stories to tell, and love to share them with tourists via elaborate productions.
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| This show was at the tomb site of the Qin Dynasty Emperor. |
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| This particular story seems (perhaps) most important of all......in Xi'an. The story is about an emperor of the Tang Dynasty who bathed in these hot springs with his favorite concubine. The beloved concubine supposedly bewitched the Emperor, causing him to neglect his duties, and eventually causing an uprising of discontent and violence. She hanged herself, upon demand of the Emperor's enemies. And then, the Emperor missed her incredibly...... |
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| One of the ancient Hot Spring pools |
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| The outstanding, night-time, outdoor performance involved: Ballet, synchronized dance, extremely elaborate costumes, water fountains, fire on the water, people coming down from (and ascending into) the sky, projections on big screens and on the stone cliffs behind the complex, lighted pavilions, platforms that raised from or lowered into the water, moon and stars of the night sky illuminated all across the mountain behind the stage, a flock of doves that flew away at the end, and beautiful, acrobatic dancers. Best Show Ever! |
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| This site is also where Chiang Kai Shek and the Communists had some big shoot-outs in 1936. |
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| We took a cable car up to the trails of Hua Shan Mountain. |
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| Granite peaks of Hua Shan Mountain |
The view from the cable cars and the mountain would have been awesome, except that it was greatly compromised by thick air pollution. Apparently, farmers in the lowlands were burning corn stalks in their fields........on top of other air pollution problems.......
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| Linda was our guide for two days. |
We bought a padlock (with key) and had it engraved, so that we could leave it up on Hua Shan Mountain with thousands of other padlocks along the trails......
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| O Ping and O Fei are our Chinese names. We left this padlock on Hua Shan Mountain, with thoughts of World PEACE, on October 9, 2010. |
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| We will keep the key forever. |
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| Thousands of steps, along the ridge-line of the mountain. |
EVERYWHERE we go, Chinese people request to have their photos taken with the "Foreigners."
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| Pretty Steep! |
Hua Shan Mountain is one of Taoism's
5 Sacred Mountains. There are little cave-temples all along the trail. We pray often for Lila's return to good health.
Tao Gods
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| Chinese characters are often carved into the granite. |
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| Buildings along the ridge-line |
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| Taking the cable car back down |
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