Escaping Shanghai's Heat

J & K in Moganshan

It's really hot in Shanghai.  We thought we could handle it.  But when you have a record-breaking-summer-heat, it's hard to handle.

So, what now?  Well, one piece of GOOD NEWS:  yesterday marked the end of the 40 day Fu, the hottest part of summer according to the chinese lunar calendar.  Winds from the Tai Feng (typhoon) in Taiwan have cooled us a bit.

Missionary house from the 1920's

 What did we do to-escape-Shanghai-heat?  Besides AC and drinking lots of water, we traveled to two places in China that are supposed getaways from the scorching Shanghai heat.

 First, Moganshan.  Moganshan became a resort for missionaries and a retreat for Shanghai gangsters and politicians. (Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai Shek.)   Go figure!

Gavin and May

 We thoroughly enjoyed our time with our new friends Gavin and his wife, May.  The food was fresh and delicious, the hiking was not as crowded as many Chinese hikes, and the river rafting was like a Disneyland ride, but much more dangerous.

The wildest river rafting ever... sort of like
Disneyland's bumper cars, but in the water.
River guides stand at the side and
 pull you into rapid chutes.

 Moganshan, 2.5 hour drive west of Shanghai, in Zhejiang Province

Ahh...tranquil bamboo forest hiking
It's hard to find any paths in China
without hordes of people

One really can hire workers to carry you on a hike!

Ken decides to reverse the roles

Ken enjoys Weird Rock,
 that's what it's called on the map!

Jeanie and May on a hike overlooking temple

Vats of what else?  Tsingtao beer
Take-away plastic bags of beer are sold around town.

The next stop on our trying-to-escape-the-Shanghai-heat, is the German influenced town of Qingdao.  T Some Chinese even call it "China Switzerland'... NOT!   People come to Qingdao in Shangdong Province, 1.5 hour flight north from Shanghai, for the beaches and Tsingtao beer.

Yep, it's really called Beer Street

Former German governor's residence, 1903

In 1898, German forces took Qingdao after two German missionaries were killed.  Qingdao was under German rule for 99 years.  In 1903, the Tsingtao Brewery was open.  Protestant and Catholic churches were built.

 Qingdao even hosted the Olympic sailing event in 2008.

Protestant Church, 1908

#1 Bathing Beach, most crowded of all 6 bathing spots

Jeanie tries to stay cool

Everyone is at the beach,
even multiple brides-to-be

#2  Bathing beach, bring your own umbrella

Beach head volleyball

We enjoyed Qingdao.  The ocean breezes were cool enough, but honestly, it was still hot.  It's hard to find anywhere in China that can escape-the-Shanghai-Heat-of-2013.

Even with the extreme heat, we are grateful that God gives us strength, and we in turn can provide shade for others.

See, a King will reign in righteousness... each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

Isaiah 32: 1-2

Next Time:  September Visitors

Suzhou

Suzhou canal

Suzhou- it's been called the Venice of the East because of its many canals. Suzhou is a beautiful, 2,500 year old town in the Yangzi Basin.

Suzhou gondolier

Donne, Ken's colleague

Jesse, Donne's daughter

We take a 40 minute fast-train to Suzhou in Jiangsu Province and meet up with Ken's colleague, Donne, and his family, Danna and Jesse.  Donne is our tour guide and gracious host.

 We enjoy a weekend of exploring the gardens, cobbled streets and the canals of Suzhou. 

Leaning Cloud Rock Pagoda
at Tiger Hill
Built in 10th century
Began to tilt 400 years ago!

When the Grand Canal (canal that connects the Yellow River with Yangzi River) was completed, Suzhou became an important shipping center and China's leading silk-producing city.

We stay in a 400 year old residence,
Pingjiang Lodge

Lotus bud

Haoche! (yummy)  Signature fish dish  

Donne and Jesse 

North temple pagoda

Four elements of a Chinese garden:
vegetation, water, rocks, architecture

Amazing doorways

Ken explores the narrow streets of Suzhou

J and K in the garden

Afternoon rain at the
Humble Administrator's Garden



Portland Oregon's Classical Chinese Garden, now called Lan Su Garden, was influenced by this famous Suzhou Garden. The new name Lan Su is taken from Portland and Suzhou.

In the 14th century, painters, actors, schcolars and aritstocrats
arrive in Suzhou and build villas and gardens


"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters will never fail." Isaiah 58:11

Our evening ends with a lovely dinner over looking the modern buildings
of Suzhou and Jin Ji lake
Danna, Donne's wife,  and Jesse

Next Up:
Escaping Shanghai Heat

Huangshan Mountain

Shanghai Daily: "Mercury hits 105 degrees hottest day since 1873."  For the past 25 days, we've experienced 90-105 degree heat.

Ken asks a colleague about his summer plans. He responds, "We don't plan anything, just stay inside with air conditioning on."  

To escape the heat and to see one of the top five spots in all of China, we decide to fly one hour west to Anhui Province and visit Huangshan Mountain, with our visiting friend, Lisa McNamara.  Not only is it considerably cooler, and misty, but the Chinese have done an amazing job building stairs and trails throughout these granite peaks.

With an explosion of Chinese tourism, solitude is hard to come by

Huangshan mist

We decide to take the cable car up, knowing that once we arrive, we are still going to need to walk up/down, up/down.  The many stairs and paths are exhausting and exhilarating.

Huangshan Mountains

Ken surrounded by beauty:) 

The stairs are attached to the mountain!

Lisa and Jeanie on mountain path

 Hotel on the mountain

Twisted pines, granite peaks, mountain mist

 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1-2

We spend one night at the mountain, and one night in Tunxi, a quaint town at the base of the mountain.

Lisa buys souvenirs in Tunxi          

Town of Tunxi

Lisa visits Shanghai for 10 days
River cruise on Huangpu

Shout out to July visitors!

Jody Horner visits Shanghai/Beijing
 for 7 days before flying  to Thailand

  Next Up:      

 The gardens of Suzhou, a canal town

Shanxi Hospitality

Bryan, Wang Xueyan, with his extended family

We come to Shanxi Province, 2 hours by plane, to meet up with Ken's work friend, Bryan, and his extended family.  Whenever you travel to a foreign country, be sure and hook up with as many friends and their families as possible.  Travel becomes a more authentic and fun experience.

Enjoying lunch in a Pingyao courtyard

So many dishes!

The first thing one learns about Taiyuan in Shanxi, is THE NOODLES.  They are very proud of their fantastic food and abundance of noodles:  oatmeal noodle, cat eared pasta, knife cut noodles, hand pulled noodles, 25 meter long noodle in one bowl, and noodles cut with giant scissors 

It's OKAY to slurp noodles.  Really.

We travel two hours south of Taiyuan to Pingyao.  Pingyao is China's best preserved walled city.  40,000 people live in this ancient city.  No cars are allowed, just bicycles and tour buggies.

 Confucius Temple from the top of Pingyao city wall

Pingyao City Tower

Reenactment of ancient court system
 from Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644

Mao Lan, Jeanie, Fannie
at Temple Garden

Pingyao is a World Heritage Site

One can walk the city's wall:
 6 km circumference

New friends made in Pingyao

Qiao Family Couryard

Raise the Red Lantern

Near Taiyuan, we visit another unique site called Qiao Family courtyard, Qing-dynasty merchant's residence. This complex is made famous by the filming of the movie Raise the Red Lantern. 

Zhou Cypress has been growing at
an angle for 900 years!

Finally, we relax at the park in Jinci Temple before travelling back to Shanghai.

One final restaurant before we depart

We are in awe of the hospitality of Bryan and his wife, Wendy's family.  The minute we arrive, we are not allowed to pay for anything, and everything is organized for us:  hotel, transportation, meals, and tourism.  We are additionally overwhelmed when we are presented with numerous gifts upon departure:  hand-painted scroll painting, bottles of Shanxi famous vinegar, tins of green tea, and a beautiful lacquer-ware jewelry box. 

Xie, xie !!

Proverbs 11:25

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

We hope to repay their kindness by being excellent hosts to any of you who can come visit us whether it be Shanghai, China, or Tacoma, Washington.

Zai jian, 
K and J

Next Up:  Granite peaks, twisted pines, and the poetic mist of Huangshan Mt.