I have to admit I am not familiar with Italian or American food here, but the Caesar Salads I had today were just great and I had them for both lunch and dinner at Dayton. Burgers are bigger and Pasta is nicer here-I don’t know what else to say. Shoes in the malls are generally bigger, and it’s a little harder to find shoes of my size. I was so stuffed today after each meal. I was just wondering if I might get fat after 1 month but when seeing those overweight people walking around on the street, I am kind of released, really.

It’s been interesting so far, although I know new potential challenges are down there somewhere.

Heard of West Lake in Hangzhou? I am sure you did if you know China a little bit, but have you heard of West Mountain? Yes, it's seemingly familiar to you because it has a "west", but it's a small island in Suzhou in the center of the big Tai Lake. It's a good idea to go there for the team building, although this time the weather was very hot. We were supposed to buy peaches or waxberries from the local orchard directly, but it seems the they were too popular to await our arrival. So we just cruised the lake on day one and climbed the highest mountain on the island on day two. Although no matter how much sunscreen you put on, you still got burned somewhere on the skin which was exposed in the sun most of the day. I am quite satisfied with the food there-we had different kind of local fish, shrimps and some other local vegetables-all were well cooked. I think it would be a great place to go to when it's not so hot and steamy, especially staying there for a week would be quite relaxing if time allows. The lake is quite huge, and it looks endless beside the lake-no wonder it's the third biggest lake in China, with its size bigger than the entire area of great Shanghai. Maybe it was because of the hot weather, we scarcely saw anybody walking on the street. It was quite comfortable and chilling to drive on the road there, even for those who don't drive like me. I liked the winding road with one side of the mountain and the other of the lake. I am not sure if I would go back there again, but it's definitely a good resort for people who would like to have a getaway when it's not too hot or too cold. It takes 2 hours to drive to the island from Shanghai by the bye.

View From the Hotel Window
Lake Tai
A Fish Boat
The Bridge Connecting Suzhou and West Mountain
The Pavilion On The Top
Xishan Village Beside Tai Lake
The New Tourist Spot Under Construction

Well, I am trying to record every little piece of my life here. Although Sanmen, the little town in Zhejiang Province, is not that famous, I still went there with two of my best friends in school to see another friend of ours. The trip was relaxing and lots of laughter, and the plain view of the town will not fade away in our memories for sure. It took us 4 hours to get there from Shanghai, and the moment we got there we had big crabs and some other sea food, thanks to someone who is familiar with the strange place.

Yeah, food we had was awesome in Sanmen. Although it's not as cheap as we thought and it's more expensive than some in Shanghai, we agreed on the fact that eating well matters. So dinners and lunch were quite satisfactory, even the breakfasts were better than I expected.

Before we went there, we had expected how Sanmen would look like, since the city will be blossomed by its nuclear plant instead of tourism. Laohu's hospitality did make our trip much easier and I got the chance to catch some crabs beside the sea. It was great fun. Had it not rain heavily on Saturday, I would have caught more crabs there! Also I played with the octopus and some weird creature I don't know...

Laohu's company locates at the seaside, and he sees sunrise over the sea in the morning before he goes to work, with dormitory and office both facing the sea-the kind of perfect life everybody hopes to have. Yet the problem is he cannot go anywhere else unless he takes the shuttle bus, which has a set schedule every day. For me, it's a bit of limitation of freedom, as I cannot live without shops and nice restaurants.

I prepared the beach trip for the May Day, but when we got to the bus stop station, we were stunned by the crazy traffic jam-everybody was getting out of Shanghai! Luckily, the bus stop station is just outside our campus, and we headed back to school on the beautiful sunny Friday. We decided to go to the river in the end. It was quite windy on the banks of the Huangpu River, and we had our lunch picnic. Lots of fun!

The River
Lots of people getting married on that day

I tried to go to Chongming Island 2 years ago, the 3rd biggest island in China, but I could not get the ferry tickets because it was too busy during May Day when people were going home from downtown. But  the ferry tickets are not hard to get this time when it’s still cold early March. We, a 14 people group, went there on a rainy Thursday, and found the weather was just lovely on Friday. We stayed in a farmer’s house. Although the house owner does not quite know how to make her business a little more prosperous and popular, we enjoyed the fresh air and quiet countryside surroundings. The dinner around a big table was nice except the dishes were expensive, since we were expecting food in this countryside should be cheaper. The next morning, I was woken by the hammering noise downstairs, and after I got up, I realized I was not the only one who was annoyed by that. Some parts of the farmer’s house were being re-built! We should have been informed that those villagers go to bed after 9pm every day and getting up quite early to work out loud in the early morning seems to be the only fun they can enjoy. Who cares you sleep until 8am-we need to work! The forest park was nice, and we had BBQ and grass skiing there. It would be an excellent idea to camp in that big forest park during weekends, I suppose, except it takes 3 hours to get there from Minhang.

Baoyang Port
Getting On Board
Dongping Forest Park
BBQ
Grass Skiing
I Ruled On Grass

Chengdu is still beautiful after the devastating May Earthquake last year, but other places near the fault zones were not that lucky. I asked my dad to drive me to Dujiangyan to have a look on my last day in Chengdu, because I still feel guilty that I could not get back to Chengdu in May, and I wished I could do something to help. Mom said Dujiangyan is different from before, because there are not so many people there any more. I can still see the wreckage everywhere in the city after 8 months already, and it will take a long time to recover. We had lunch beside a river in a restaurant which was so popular that people had to book a table several days before. The restaurant is one of few restaurants left there now, and most of the owners have left for somewhere else. The manager said she wanted to jump into the river when the whole building was shaking crazily then, even though she doesn’t know how to swim. When we drove towards the Erwang Temple, which was badly damaged in the earthquake, we saw lots of camps in the suburban area. Hospitals, schools, houses, all in camps…Mom said during that hard time, she cried every day when she was watching TV. So did I, I did not tell anybody about this, though.

I wanted to see Dujiangyan this time, and I did. I believe next time when I see this city, it will be better, and so will other places.

The Damage
The Damage
New Constructions
Camps
Zipingpu Dam
The Wreckage

The thing is when I get home, I don’t have to worry about food, because it’s easy to eat there: price is reasonable, and there are lots of varieties as well. I don’t know if I gained any weight after this new year, but I did have problems each day with my stomach. Every year! Too much food! It was great, though, and I wish I could have a bigger stomach-that’s all I can say. I took pictures when I was having some of the dishes there, and it was a little bizarre every time I took my camera out, since it made me a total stranger. As we all grow older each year, I don’t know how many new years like this left in my life, and I guess that’s one of the reasons why I felt melancholy during my departure from Chengdu. It’s normal.

Dumpling Making
Home Made Dumplings
Lantern Festival
“Everything Goes Well”
Ox Year
Spicy Bean Curd
Chinese Pie
Tofu Rice Noodles
Tangyuan
I Want A Dragon, Not A Cock!!

So as I said, this time I did not really spend much time at home all by myself, instead, I went to lots of places in 10 days. My cousin introduced a place where they have this old traditional steam train from 19th century, so we went there after new year. Of course, on our way back, we visited Leshan Giant Buddha, which I had never seen closely. It was a bit exhausting to visit the two places in 2 days, I have to admit, as they are miles away from Chengdu, and they are far from each other as well. No wonder my aunt had to stop on the road to have a nap when driving back. We were tired in the end, but it’s totally worth it to see those great things with family.

Steam Train in Jiayang
The Car
Locomotive
Giant Buddha
Really Giant
Sleeping Buddha Mountain

I tend to feel comfortable if I stay at one place for a long time, and living somewhere else always gets me to some extent. I don't know if it was only me or everybody else is like this. Anyway, it was so fast, and the New Year Festival is gone. I miss every part of it when I am back here in Shanghai. I was so excited to get back home this time, and every day my schedule was so tight that I did not have a whole day resting at home, visiting grandma, relatives, Leshan Giant Buddha, Dujiangyan, etc.. Father said during these days, we have traveled 1000 km!! Dear! It was quite a full festival this time. Tears couldn't stop dropping this morning when I was at Chengdu airport, because I knew it won't be soon before I could get back home again. Now I know how come many people don't like airport-it is a sad place.

Let's see some pics first here:

Pudong Airport
Chengdu Airport
Chengdu
Chunxi Rd.
Kuanzhai Alley
Let's Play!

Well, now I am stuck at Pudong Airport again, not like last year when I had to stand for about 8 hours, this time I have the access to the internet while sitting in the new built terminal 2. There is a KFC in terminal 2 too, so I bought some chicken legs for the first meal of the day. Although I had to drink all the milk at the security check, the new terminal definitely gives me a good first impression. I like new built stuff. Glamorous.

Mom was right: don’t text me until your plane takes off, because your flight might be delayed. But the thing is I don’t really know when the plane can come and get me.

I am happy, because at least I will get home today, well, hopefully. >_<…

Just got back from my trip, and I couldn't wait to get back to my blog. It proved that this Beijing trip is totally worth it, and it was the best Christmas I ever had. China is not a Christmas country, and I don't have holidays for this. So basically, this is quite a record. The first day when I got to Beijing was the coldest day on record in Beijing, and obviously I did not get ready for that. I thought I was so doomed, because I did not take enough clothes. But luckily, after that, it was not cold anymore. I have been to great places this time that I have not been to in the past two trips to Beijing, and I am glad this time I did all the research to do things I wanted in Beijing. Also, for the first time, I got the chance to walk on the ice of Houhai bar area-it was awesome. The Great Wall of Mutianyu is definitely good in snow except the fact that I thought it's not as wide as I expected. Walking on the empty wall, and seeing sunset, it couldn't be any better.

The bars in Houhai is not as good as Sanlitun where The Tree and Rickshaw locate. Mainly, I think it's because many consulates are around Sanlitun not Houhai, so Sanlitun is more international, while Houhai is more commercial. Of course some bars in Sanlitun is also quite commercial, and they are just looking for money instead of entertaining customers. I can get dizzy quite fast with two beers, so normally I just have one beer and it makes me relaxed. Christmas dinner was in Rickshaw, and Christmas lunch was at the Olive. It was great, except the service at the Olive was really pathetic. All in all, I loved it.

The only thing that concerns me is I did not have time to catch up with Elyn who invited me before my coming to Beijing. I hope she can understand...I really had a tight trip. Also, my other friends texted me during the trip, but I did not reply promptly. My bad. I guess I am just libra, and you know what I mean.

It was a fruitful trip, and I hope I can have more time for trips soon.

On the train to Beijing
Tian'anmen
Water Cube Light On After 6pm
The Great Wall
Summer Palace On Ice
Beijing Duck Feast
Back In Shanghai

China is huge, and I thought I have been to lots of places. Yet after I input the names I have been to, I found there are still a lot more places than I thought I should visit!!!

Not So Many Places...:(

I didn't know I would go to Xiamen until the day before yesterday, and everything was just so fast. Yet however fast it might be, it never stopped my smart plan ahead of it. This time, I am so proud of myself that I couldn't wait to call my mom after getting back. Xiamen is the city I have been dreaming to go to for ages. The beach, the seafood, and the fresh air, it seems everything there is just so fabulous and the truth is Xiamen never disappoints me. In my memory, the most southern place I have been to was Kunming in the southwest, and obviously this trip to Xiamen could break my record-I love it. I was quite excited on the first day, and I just couldn't stop taking pictures, forgetting I was on a business trip.

Hongqiao Airport...Looks Crappy...
Xiamen Down There!!!
Xiamen Airport, Quite Small

Xiamen University
X.U.
The Beach
OMG!! She is NAKED!!!
Hy For Hylic
Sunset On The Beach
Dark Soon

Teambuilding during week days would be a great idea for everyone in the company, especially 2 days teambuilding. Living in the city for some time, people would like to have a break to embrace the nature in the wild to breathe some fresh air. We discussed a lot about where to go beforehand, and eventually we decided to go to a valley in Zhejiang Province, together with a wetland in Hangzhou. The bullet train is always a pleasure to take, steady and speedy. I don't really remember how many times I have been to Hangzhou, and the moment we got off the train, I knew where to go, since it's just so familiar to me. The next couple of hours of shuttle was not that enjoyable, as the winding road was making me sleepy on the seat.

2 hours ride took us to a place called Shangougou (The Valley)
Quite countryside, reminding me of 20 years ago
Puppy lying on the floor chilling, quite peaceful

Bamboo Dragon spraying
Chilly water from the spring through my toes
Bamboo road, scary when walking alone there

Xixi National Wetland Park
Typical Jiangnan Boat
Another boat coming towards us
Wooden road in the reeds
A temple on the water, I smelt wine outside...:\
Water Way

The Lotus and the Pavilion
Foggy and chilly

May Day used to be the 'Golden Week' before, but this year it's just a small 'Golden Week' in which you can still do lots of things. I was expecting that I might very well spend this time all by myself again until my classmates called me on May Day night, asking me if I could join them to go to Yandang Mountain in Zhejiang Province the next day. I accepted it without a second thought, since I didn't want to be like a lonely redneck countryman who could have died alone without letting anybody know in this little suffocating chamber. Basically I spent 12 hours on bus in the two-day trip, and the greatest things about this was I got the chance to cross Hangzhou Bay Bridge-the longest sea bridge in the world, which just started to let vehicles pass on May Day. It's about 35 km long, and the water aside is yellow. We saw lots of people stop on the high way bridge to take pictures, though we hoped we could do that as well, yet when we knew there were lots of accidents happened because of that wrong behaviors, we kind of laughed it off.

The mysterious bridge	They Stopped on the high way

Monk Worshipping the Tower	Tiny people down the rock

I didn't know how delicious Wuhan could be until my cousin introduced so many yummy dishes to me...Now let's get started with the drooling food...

Doupi-'Bean Cover'(No beans at all)	Reganmian-'Hot Dry Noodles'

Hutangfen-'Rice noodles with pepper soup'	Guihuamijiuhu, Jianbao and Yabo-'Sweet Osmanthus Rice Wine', 'Fried Dumplings with spicy sauce' and 'Duck Necks'

Spicy BBQ for the end of the day...

Known as one of the three hottest cities in China, visiting Wuhan would have never crossed my mind if my cousin is not studying in Wuhan University. Wanted to well spend some time before my busy days, so I bought the tickets to the 'summer furnace'. It was pretty fast from Shanghai to Wuhan-8 hours! Nice!! I slept well except some uncivilized people smoked on the train, but that was ok, I could live with it for 8 hours. The next morning when I got there, I was disappointed at what I saw-the roads were muddy and narrow with lots of dirty buses and cars, and even trucks. Oops~~But it was all good when I got to Wuhan University, which is considered one of the most beautiful universities in China.

Sakura Roof	Student Union-the origin of corruption

Although they have the nice trees and beautiful green roofs, the students living condition is not so good thanks to the relatively less funding for this university, which is a shame, since I hope all those great architectures need better protection and maintenance.

Down Sakura Roof	Square land and round heaven-tradition Chinese value

East Lake	Road down from hill

I think I twisted my ankle when walking down from the hill, and for the rest of the trip I was in pain...That's sad...:(

Mr.Sun-the father of new China	Xinhai Revolution Museum

It was pretty nice that day after the rain, and this city was not dusty at all. And because of this season when students are studying, people are working, lots of the places are not crowded...Nice~~

Conference room	Nice building

'Magnificent' in Chinese	On Tower of Huanghe

Tower of Huanghe-the symbol of Wuhan	Huanghe=yellow crane

My cousin had never been to Huanghe Tower before my visit, even though she has been studying three for 3 years. It was worth it, since it's the symbol of the city. When I remembered a poem by Libai, the most famous poet in Chinese history, I realized how interesting it was when I came up to Huanghe Tower from Yangzhou...

"Old friends said goodbye on Huanghe Tower,

Going down to Yangzhou in blossom March."

Wuhan Changjiang River Bridge	On ferry

Wuhan Changjiang Bridge is the first bridge across Changjiang River, started by the Russians, finished by Chinese.

Jianghan Rd.	The old biggest night club, now a big shopping mall

With the colonial cultures, Wuhan is like Shanghai to some extent. It's easy to tell from the styles of the architectures. Outshining other cities 30 years ago, Wuhan is not as special as then, but it does has a bright future in the next 20 years.

It's March in Luna calendar, and it's the best time to go the old city-Yangzhou to see flowers. I always wanted to go there when I was in Nanjing, but I didn't find the best opportunity to go there. This time, instead of going to Lushan as I planned before, and due to same problem that always happens in China during holidays-BUSY TICKETS, we ended up having the chance to visit Yangzhou. Without lots of heavy industry and polluting plants, this city is relatively "cleaner" than Suzhou and Wuxi. I always think the beauty in a city includes scenery and people, and yet Yangzhou seems to lack the latter. Or maybe I am wrong because of my hasty conclusion in just a short stay. I have seen what it's like in March, and maybe I guess this is my first and also my last time to go there...If I have to give a score of this trip, I would say 6 out of ten.

Another funny is instead of having a nice Yangzhou Fried Rice, we went to Pizzahut for lunch. That's very "traditional". Next time I travel, I need to do enough homework so that time will be really well spent. Anyway, there is no such thing as perfection, so all in all I am pretty satisfied with the trip, and that's just nice glimpse of the spring.

This lake is one of the biggest lakes in China, and yet it is considered to be one of the most polluted lakes in China, thanks to the fast growth of the industry in the cities around this huge lake. When I got there, it was not bad looking, and you can not be able to imagine that several months ago, the water in Wuxi was not drinkable at all. Because of lots of construction going on, I think it would be much better to visit this lake next time.

Weather was quite gloomy...		A huge modern wheel is being built there
I didn't know Xi Shi was from there...		This weird tree reminded me of those scary killing octopus...
Old traditional pavilion...		Old building at night...