The Best 200 RMB I've Spent in China

200RMB is just about $33 US.  I originally knew I was getting ripped off for this used bike, but it has paid for itself 50 times over this year.  Beijing is flat as a pancake and this bike gets me to the pool, to the subway station, to the grocery store, etc.  It's a junker but I've put some money into it.  I got the BIG basket and had the chain replaced and new tires put on.  The previous owner spray painted some funky colors on it as you can see and the seat has gold thread in it.  That's how I spot my bike when it's parked amongst a sea of bikes.  I've grown immensely attached to this bike, moreso than any car I've owned, except for the Ford LTD station wagon, aka Lucinda.  I think its time to name my bike.

Chengde

Mom and Dad have arrived in CHINA!!!  I picked them up at the airport on the 30th of May, a Thursday and where did we eat?  Those of you who have visited know that the first place to go is the noodle/dumpling/bbq street food stand near my house.  The next morning, we were on an early train to the town of Chengde, which is about 150 miles northeast of Beijing?  Why go to Chengde? Glad you asked. 

The Qing Dynasty Emperors were Manchus from Northeastern China. In the early 1700's Emperor Kangxi wanted to escape the heat of Beijing (who doesn't) and built his equivalent of the US President's Camp David up here in the mountains of Chengde.  He called his retreat "Bishu Shanzhuang" which translates to "Beat the Summer Heat Mountain Retreat."  Over the next century the retreat added a hunting ground and became the place where the emperors met with the representatives of foreign countries and of threatening tribes.

First stop, a temple high above the city of Chengde.

The name of which I forget, but the significance of this photo?  The first time my father has ever taking a picture on an iPhone.

Chengde

The main palace at Bishu Shanzhuang is laid out in the typical Chinese courtyard style.  The one difference is the natural woods and the lack of bright colors.  It really does look and feel like a "cabin" in the woods.

Important events happened here.....the great Qing Emperors built this summer retreat, but the last Qing Emperors bore witness to China's humiliation.

The grounds just below the palace have a beautiful lake!  I'm surprised to have this picture in my camera that has no boats or people in it.  The lake was packed when we were there.

The Misty Rain Tower

Yongyousi Pagoda

The bulk of the grounds of the retreat were rolling mountains and hills.  Here at the north end is a wall marking the borders of the retreat.  My only disappointment was that we didn't have time to go to this area because.....

We missed the view looking down on Putuozhongcheng Temple, which you can kind of tell looks like the Potala Palace in Lhasa?  Why?  So it turns out the emperors built this (and eight other surrounding temples) in the style of visitors to make them feel at ease...and in the case of Putuozhongcheng, Tibetans.

Puning Temple.  Like many temples in Chengde, this one has both Chinese and Tibetan styles.

You can see the Chinese style on the right and in the background, going up the hill, it starts to look Tibetan.

You see that tall building in back?  It's called Mahayana Hall.

Inside it holds Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of Mercy.  She is the largest wooden structure of its kind in the world.  She has 42 arms!

To get a sense of how tall Guanyin is, this is what you see if you are at ground level and look forward without tilting your head.

Why no pictures of Mom and Dad?  Well, Dad's taking all the pictures.  He's doing well with the cane and walking faster than I expected.  But stairs like this wear him out fast.

And one of the highlights was a ski lift ride to the base of Sledgehammer Rock.

Yeah, you see what I see!

I had to...

And just south of the ski lift is Pule Temple. It looks like the Temple of Heaven on top with a square Tibetan base with stupas in the corner!