CHINA - impressive history and stormy present by Klaus Metzger (books to read to improve english txt) 📕

were later able to relive in Xi'an and on our Yangtze River cruise ship "Blue Whale".

 

After lunch at the Western restaurant we took the bus into the old town (Hudong) near the bell tower. We met on the walk rickshaw drivers with numerous customers and visited the house of a Chinese man who told us from everyday life and of the rapid changes. This area will soon cease to exist, for the houses to be demolished sooner or later. I'm a regular ZEIT reader and was looking forward shortly after the return on an article of the new ZEIT Korrepondentin in Beijing, Angela Köckritz, about their problems adjusting in the Old Town. I discovered more interesting reports about China from her (see also the above-mentioned article " concubines ").

 



 Chinese in the Old Town

 

The rest of the afternoon (up to exit the main train station in Beijing, 17 against clock) we had free time. First we got ourselves in a small supermarket drinks and fruit for the train ride. We would have still bought some chocolate. This we found but too expensive. In a larger, multi-story department store, we should be able to satisfy all of our requests, told Chen. According to the sales staff was pushy. Jutta could only choose two subjects. In a side street we sit on a bench, enjoying the beautiful weather and watching the people passing by. There were a surprising number of white underneath - we were probably in a better residential area of ​​Beijing.

 

Because again during rush hour (which was actually for the entire day) was , took the ride to the central station over an hour. After a long walk (thank God we had no case here) by the huge train station we came to the departure track of our overnight train to Xi'an. Our compartment with 4 beds we had exclusive use of you, because we had been in Germany for private use an additional fee of 138, - EUR paid.

Before going to sleep, we organized the train crew nor the alarm clock at 6 the next morning and one serving of coffee for breakfast. The night ride was quiet and we were able to sleep very well. In the morning it was impressive to see watch the monotonous loess landscape while driving. The morning toilet caused because of the great rush on them (as we had previously seen) difficulties. To this end, the poor hygienic conditions were in the toilet and in the washroom (shower there was not). Therefore, we used our wet wipes, which we carry in all our travels as standard equipment , for a refreshing " quick wash ".

This train ride was, as already stated, no problems. In Germany, I later learned from a disaster on a high-speed lines: On 23 April 2011 met with very bad weather, two high-speed trains in Wenzhou (south of Shanghai) together. There were 40 deaths. Since the information policy of the state bodies left much to be desired, there was a great outcry on the Internet. For Chinese standards, this was an unusual reaction and the ZEIT Korrepondentin Angela Köckritz this in depth.

 

 The DERTOUR tour guide Li (with glasses)

Around 8 clock (on Saturday , 16 April 2011) we arrived at the station in Xi'an. Already on train we were greeted by our new tour guide Li (to detect them was wearing the DERTOUR flag with her). In Xi'an we had first to complete a longer walk of about 15 minutes until we got to our bus that took us to our Garden Hotel Xi'an ( Xi'an Garden Hotel ) brought , where we arrived at 8 clock 30 .

 

 

 Xi'an Garden Hotel

 

Famished we jumped up onto the magnificent breakfast which was very tastefully prepared in a separate room. Also, the operator turned out to be courteous friendly. Then we got the key to our room (2462) , so that we could shower us first. Even matching bathrobes were available. At 10 clock was greeted by our luggage, which we had passed on the morning of progress against own day in the hotel in Beijing. This time Jutta was 5 yuan tip per case (over the entire trip came, a larger amount of 100, - euros alone for gratuities together).

 

Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi Province and has more than 5 million inhabitants. It is in the fertile plain of the Wei River. Once Xi'an was the largest city in the world and served as capital 11 Tang dynasties. It developed as a hub for major trade hub at the main trading routes to Central Asia and Europe. Xi'an was also the end point of the ancient Silk Road.

 

A special tourist attraction is the Terracotta Army of the first Chinese Emperor Qin Shihuandi. It is located about 28 km east of Xi'an in a larger museum complex and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first Emperor gave the order for the 60 km ² grave complex with numerous pits , ditches and walls. 700,000 workers are said to have built in 36 years, the facility (according to notes of the historian of the Han dynasty Sima Qian). The grave monument of the Emperor has not yet been opened. Discovered in 1974 a farmer at the wells approximately 1.80 m clay soldiers.

 

 Terracotta Warriors

 

The road from our Garden Hotel in Xian (exit against 10 clock 30) to the museum with the terracotta army was cumbersome, because the highway connection was closed due to a high state visit. On the way back the track was free again. The sight was fascinating - especially under the aspect that the first Emperor of the Qin dynasty lived about 200 BC. Very interesting was the look in the repair shop, where the individual shards (there was a peasant uprising in which many characters were destroyed) reassembled cumbersome.

 

After this impressive outing in the early history of China in the late afternoon we were back in our hotel. Very interesting information I gathered later, an article by Angela Köckritz (rivers of mercury). Obviously had our tour guide Li difficulties with the organization of the dinner at our hotel, because originally it should be taken as a lunch somewhere else. With the appointment by 17 clock we were just too early and demanded the chef and his staff, so many wishes remained open - we just had already eaten better in China.

 

The following day (Sunday, April 17, 2011) welcomed us with beautiful weather and we absorbed the relaxed atmosphere in this excellent hotel in Xi'an on formally. After breakfast we admired the Tang garden and an elderly Chinese in the Tai Chi. These fit two majestic swans that passed in peace. We wanted to visit at 8 clock 30, the big wild goose pagoda nearby.

 

Xi'an was in the period from 11th century BC to the 9th Century  AD the center of the Chinese world. On the opposite side of the Wei River was located in Xianyang in the 3rd Century BC China, the first capital of residence to the seat of the emperor. Under the Han Dynasty, the residence has been relocated to the southern river bank. The highlight was the Tang Dynasty in the 7th and 8 Century  AD. From this period dates the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

 

 
 Big Wild Goose Pagoda

 

We visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was near our Garden hotels, and could very easily be reached on foot. The 73 m high and seven-story brick tower from the year 647 was damaged several times by earthquakes and Buddhists and then restored. He belongs to the monastery of Great Mercy and goodness which is next door. Upon entering the monastery courtyard, we were kindly asked to leave the monastery again.

 

Now was still visiting the Grand Mosque on the program. The Great Mosque is one of the most beautiful in the Chinese style and fascinated by the quiet courtyards, the total harmonic system and the fine reliefs on the buildings (the only way I could recognize as Islamic art). Two imperial inscription steles in the second courtyard, which are from the stone Schmucktor left and right, from the years 1606 or in 1768. They relate to construction and renovation work, which was funded by the yard. The "Pagoda of the examination of conscience " serves as a minaret.

 

 

Islamic inscriptions

 

After a short bus ride and a winding walk through the breathtaking bazaar of Xian we arrived at the Grand Mosque. There just mourning ceremony for a deceased Muslim took place. The Muslims were recognized by their white caps. At various buildings I recognized Islamic character. What surprised me the minaret, from the muezzin to prayer. It was a relatively low building and in no way a tower.

After the city tour (Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Great Mosque) and lunch (with an excellent buffet) we drove to the airport of Xian. We once saw a part of the old city wall. The journey time was approximately 1 h We flew on China Eastern (Flight-No. MU2262 ) in the 800 km away Chongqing. There is the port for the cruise ships on the Yangtze River. We checked in Xian as a group so that we also have no problem with being overweight had (allowed 20 kg for domestic flights). However, this method could not be selected the seats (Jutta had 5F and I 12A). Otherwise, the flight worked very well and we arrived in Chongqing after an hour flight to. The DERTOUR tour guide Shimbo picked us up and took us by bus to the Holiday Inn North Chongqing (Holiday Inn Hotel) . We surprised the many high-rise buildings . Also go to the " real estate bubble" Angela Köckritz wrote an important article , which has confirmed my impressions in China. (Property bubble CHINA)

 

 View from Holiday Inn
 

In Chongqing (direct-controlled city) covers an area of 82,400 km ² over 32 million inhabitants. These figures also relate to the surrounding mountains, the villages and other towns. Since it's very mountainous, is called Chongqing as the only Chinese " big city without cyclists ". Chongqing is located 2400 km from the mouth of the Yangtze River located in the East China Sea. Here ends the Jialing Jiang in the Yangtze River. 1935 Chongqing war capital was fled as the national government from the advancing Japanese.

On the Yangtze from Chongqing to the Three Gorges Dam

 

 

The treasury mountain of Dazu

 

Since we had taken our lunch before our flight to Chongqing, Xi'an, we left in the evening after showering our hotel Holiday Inn to buy drinks and fruit. Although here in North Chongqing in very small spaces numerous high-rise buildings (in which live the Chinese) are, we discovered during our nocturnal excursion small parks where cavorted many Chinese families (it was Sunday).

 

They were also very friendly towards us and we had to be the first time on our trip feel integrated, and participate in the life of the Chinese allowed to. About the lives of Chinese families in the past and in today's China has been quoted several times ZEIT correspondent, Angela Köckritz, a very informative article written (life in CHINA) .

 

At the beginning of my trip report (Part I) I have already referred to the novels of