Yi Poapoa and Marco Polo Bridge

I have relatives in Beijing!  On the right, the youngest sister of my grandmother (they look exactly alike!) and on the left, her husband.

Turns out I live about 50 minutes (one bus, no transfers) away from them, so I visited them at their apartment.  Yi Gong has a bad left leg (must run in the family) and is unable to lift it so he drags it along.  Therefore, he is housebound and not allowed out by himself.

YES!!!  I got a "hong bao"  When I saw it, I felt like I was 12 years old again!

We all talked for about 40 minutes (even a phone call to MY grandfather in Seattle).  Yi Poa showed me the Liu family history, which they just printed.  It comes in two volumes.  I saw my Mom's name, but I asked if I were there, and she said, "No, because you're a Chen!"

If in Beijing, you eat Beijing Duck!

After lunch, Yi Poa and I went to the nearby "Luguo Qiao," or known in the west as the Marco Polo Bridge.

The first bridge over the Yongding River, 15km southwest of central Beijing, was constructed in the 10th century. Marco Polo (yes that one) was impressed with the bridge when he visited in the 13th century and is known in the west as Marco Polo Bridge.

It is famed for all the lions that line the entire length of both sides of the bridge.

There are lions on lions, partially hiding other lions.  Each statue is different and the true number of lions has never been agreed upon.

The bridge was closed to automobile traffic in 1971 when newer bridges were complete, but they managed to incorporate the older stones into the renovation.

So, the Marco Polo Bridge would simply be a nice bridge with little historical value EXCEPT it was the site of the infamous Marco Polo Bridge Incident of July 1937.  At that time, the Japanese were on the other side of the Yongding River and this was their access point into Beijing.

The bridge led directly into the small walled town of Wanping.  Depending on who's history you believe, either the Japanese manufactured a reason to start an invasion or it was a series of miscommunications, but the Marco Polo Bridge incident was the commencement of the Japanese attack on Beijing in 1937.

The walled city on Wanping still bears the holes from the cannons.

This house, in the architecturally preserved city of Wanping, was the home of the "mayor" of Wanping.

Inside Wanping is the "Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Agression"  Didn't go in, but I want to go back.  I'm betting it's fascinating propoganda!

Qufu -- Birthplace of Confucius

I hear of Confucius and Confucianism and wonder, "Is he a deity and is it a religion?" of "Is he a man and a doctrine?"  Well, in my limited understanding of Asian/Chinese history, and in talking with my colleague Mr. P-C, it's the latter.  Confucius (born 551BC) came up with a set of principles based on humanism, etiquette, filial piety, loyalty, knowledge and integrity, that ended up being the basis of the Chinese political system until the early 1900's.  To get into government service, one had to pass Confucian exams, essentially being able to memorize and analyze Confucian thought and ideas. I wondered whether or not it was the most effective way to find the best people. I thought maybe, but as P-C so succinctly put it, "it is like trying to staff a government that needs administrators and bureaucrats with only people who could successfully get a PHD in English."  Point taken!

That all being said, it's now Chinese New Year's week vacation and I decided to take a day trip to Qufu, where Confucius was born to see the large temple there.  I took some students along as well! 

"Qufu"

"Kong Zi"

Southern Entrance into The Confucius Temple at Qufu

Started 2500 years ago as a place for quiet contemplation, it has grown into a smaller version of The Forbidden City.  The grounds have temples and courtyards that are filled with "Stele Pavilions"

On the right, one of my students with whom I have a running gag.  We play the "bowing game" and the winner is the one who goes last.

She has incredible patience and ALWAYS wins.

A few kilometers north of the temple is the Kong Family Cemetery.  Here's the entrance.

The gravestone of Confucius himself!

Apparently, he's buried under the mound behind me.

Grave of the son of Confucius

Grave of the grandson of Confucius

The cemetery has over 100,000 graves.  All descendents of "Kong Zi"  The cemetery now is 3.6 square kilometers.

In fact, family members are still being buried here, this one, if I'm reading it right, was placed here in 2004.  In fact, descendants of the 78th generation are being buried here.

The Kong Family cemetery in Qufu is the cemetery that has the longest direct lineage to one person in the entire world.  That's pretty cool!

On the bus back to the train station, your typical announcements about the next stop and then, at the end, "The Diaoyu Islands belong to China!"

Temple Fair -- Temple of Earth

During the Chinese New Years Week vacation, the temples around Beijing hold temple fairs.  Turns out the most famous, and largest of the temple fairs is held about a 20 minute bike ride from my apartment at the Temple of Earth.  So, opening Sunday, off I went.

The South Gate of the Temple of Earth

The area which holds the altar itself is usually not open, but during the temple fair, it is.  Here's the gate into the altar.

The more famous Temple of Heaven, in the southern part of Beijing, is round, symbolizing heaven.  Earth, is represented by the square.  The square altar really isn't that impressive, but here it is.  On the left, worshipers with incense.  On the right, a rock band.  

I thought the fair would be more "ceremonial", but it was what you would call, a carnival.  Not sure what this guy was all about.  Either a guessing game or fortune telling.

Booths selling stuff.....

....games where you can win stuffed animals.

And all types of food.  Look at those ENONORMOUS lamb "chwar!!!"

On my bike ride home I passed the Gate at Deshengmen, one of the gates of the original city wall NOT torn down in this race to modernization.

Chinese New Year -- In China

Chinese New Year is a huge deal in China.  It is now known as the biggest migration of people in the world, as approximately 3.4 billion trips on road, rails and air take place in the weeks before and after the Chinese New Year, which is TONIGHT.  Right now, as I type, it sounds like a war zone outside my window.  It's a constant rumble of explosions, whistles, firecrackers and the colored lights of fireworks.  This has been going on for hours.  Many Chinese clear out of the country, headed for warmer temperatures and I had the option to do so myself. However, I wanted to experience once Chinese New Year...IN CHINA.  And it hasn't disappointed.  I spent the evening with new friends and then bundled up and watched the fireworks from the street. 

A fireworks stand...nothing seems out of the ordinary!

Up close, this looks, well, not what we would find in the United States.

Around 10PM, this is the quality and size of the fireworks.

Yeah, seriously.  Where do those awesome fireworks displays from the US come during 4th of July?  China!

The aftermath

It's an amazing thing that more people aren't hurt.  For an hour, the city simply stood still and fireworks were everywhere.  360 degrees!  No wonder this is all illegal in the US.