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