Xi'an, China Day 5 (Part 1 - City Wall)

Assalamualaikum w.b.t!

First of all, I am sorry for taking such a long time on this post. Well anyway today Alhamdulillah I'm finally gonna share on my trip to the City Wall, the largest and best preserved present city wall in ancient China and is probably the best military battlement in the world.

(Check out my previous post in Luoyang, China Day 4)

25th Oct 2014 (Day 5)

I fell in love with the architecture design of this historical City Wall.

Tour to City Wall was actually scheduled on the first day in China however, because our tour guide afraid that we might be late or hurried to catch our bullet train to Luoyang therefore she rescheduled it to the last day. 

Due to pack schedule we had that final day, most of the places we visited were in hurry and frankly speaking a rushed holiday just ain't good enough holiday. But anyway, I still enjoy the cinematic view of this magnificent City Wall subhanAllah! 

Somewhere around 8.30 am we checked out from hotel for the final time and then walked to the City Wall. The MengFei Hotel situated only 100 meters or 5 minutes walk from the City Wall and a walk in autumn's breezy morning was really nice.  

Checked out at lobby of the Flying Dragon Hotel, Xi'an - love the concept of pond filled with koi fishes.

Most of Japanese and Chinese love to keep koi fishes. This may due to the characteristics associated with the koi: (Taken from: feng-shui.lovetoknow.com)

Good fortune
Success
Prosperity
Longevity
Courage
Ambition
Perseverance

The street view right outside of the hotel where as early as 6.30 am (local time), you can see (and hear from your hotel window) the citizens started their daily life; busy going to work, market and sending children to school. 

Headed towards one of the main gate that was so high and huge!

This is the South Gate of City Wall Xi'an. 

The City Wall includes four gates, the east gate named as Changle which means eternal joy, the west gate named as Anding that is harmony peace, the south gate named as Yongning with the meaning of eternal peace and finally, the north gate Anyuan which means forever harmony.

There was this map showing those gates and what lies inside this City Wall that you can refer to just near the South Gate.

This is Miss Mei, our tour guide at Xi'an. She told us that she was born in Xi'an, raised there and plan to die nowhere else and indeed Miss Mei was like a walking Xi'an's encyclopedia. She knows every single thing about Xi'an.

We climbed up these stairs to get on top of the wall.
Need to be there early in the morning cause when sun started to show up, there's no place to hide.

It is not only because I'm small but it is also because there were many stairs to climb to!!
Well okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit. 

There were two museums of the South Gate which are the barbican and the archery tower. Tourists who visit the wall can enjoy a free visit to these two museums. Back in those days when there were enemies, the archery played an important part as the first defense squad for the city and for more info on this you can get inside the museum (which I did not have time to visit).

And tadaaa!!! The view on top of the City Wall!
That beautiful building on the left is the archery tower.

The South Gate (Yongning Gate) is the most time-honored and magnificent one among all the city gates. There were bicycles for rental up to the South Gate. So it is popular for visitors to ascend here. There were also battery car (long buggy car) to ride on.

To cycle round the wall for a whole circle takes 1.5 to 2 hours at a medium speed. The bicycle deposit is CNY 200. The single bicycle costs CNY 40/100 minutes. The tandem bicycle costs CNY 80/100 minutes.

An extra charge if more than 100 minutes. An extra 10 minutes costs CNY 5 for a bicycle, and CNY 10 for a tandem bicycle. Bicycles should be returned at the South Gate before 20:00 if you don’t return them before 18:00 at the other three gates.

The ordinary sightseeing battery car costs CNY 80 for a circle ride while the luxurious one costs CNY 120. One can also visit the wall by sections. The ordinary type costs CNY 20 between two stops. The luxurious type costs CNY 30.

Route: South Gate – West Gate – North Gate – East Gate

Info taken from: travelchinaguide.com

At only about 8.30 am this place is already packed with visitors.
Those green buses were some of the tourist buses. 

Its colour is preserved including some of the detailing in order to give the original 'feel' to the tourist.

There was this rule where any building inside of the City Wall must not be higher than the wall itself. Why? Well of course to ensure the safety of the building inside the wall, right? During the day that we visited the wall, we saw a morning market (pasar tani some sort of thing) far down inside the city wall. 

And there was this lorry filled with lots and lots of apples and many kinds of vegetables. I did not go to the market but from the looked of it I bet you can surely get most of the things, especially local foods, there.

So from this picture it is obvious that on the right side is the inside of the City Wall as on the left side there are many tall buildings can be seen.

Tour on the wall really impressed me with its work of architecture. While walking around, I saw these gaps in between the wall that facing outside the city, they were exactly like the one that can be seen in the most of the old castles. The purposed were same, to see the enemies who were approaching towards the wall and then to attack them while that wall become the shield of protection.

And for tourist like us, that was the perfect spot to take a selfie/wefie haha! (excuse me la, can't see many building like this in Malaysia).

This is the south wing area, the only part we visited.

Can you see those gaps in between the wall?

After only an hour (you need to spend at least two hours), we left the great City Wall. During the earlier part of the tour Miss Mei did explained some significant history of the wall and there was this one fact that I love the most about the history.

"..When Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), captured Huizhou, a hermit named Zhu Sheng admonished him that he should 'built high walls, store abundant food supplies and take time to be an Emperor,' so that he could fortify the city and unify the other states."

The hermit gave such a wise advised to the emperor that all of us can also take lessons from. Zhu Sheng said store abundant of food supplies and for what reason? This is to ensure the welfare of his (emperor) people be one of his top priority. 

Back in those dynasty days, people defected and started a riot as due to hunger. Thus, once the emperor took care of the folk's welfare he would definitely wins their loyalty. And this was what exactly happened, the citizens were happy, the states unified and eventually known as it is today, China.

If you are an employer, or a group leader or even a house-father, do not rush to be seen as a 'leader'. Gain respect from your followers first, fulfill their rights and only then they will give their undivided loyalty and service towards your leadership.

After all,

Respect can only be given to those who have earned it by working for it - Habeeb Akande

This was how it looks like outside the South Gate.

This was the city guard. He wasn't crying or anything, I just caught him at the wrong time since I took this picture from inside a moving bus.

You can also take picture with this cute (cute here referring to the cartoon image of the city army, obviously heh!) thingy displayed by the stairs near the gate.  

Well, that's it for City Wall and in the next post I shall continue with the second place we visited on the final day.

Til then, Assalamualaikum!

Luoyang, China Day 4 (Part 2, Luoyang to Xi'an)

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!

May Allah have mercy upon us the sinners and may patience be with those flood victims all around Malaysia who were facing great musibah currently.

In my previous post Luoyang, China Day 4 (Part 1 - Longmen Grottoes), I already shared my wonderful experience in one of the three famous treasure houses of stone sculpture in China therefore I shall now continue with more awesome journey! Read through!

I showed some of the things sold at the Pedestrians Street and here some more!

Beautiful bracelets and necklaces made from jade.
All these are genuine and yet cheap.

Varies types of street foods to try.
All these were non-Halal but tomorrow (Day 5) at Xi'an's Muslim street nothing but Halal.
Good things come to those who waits!

I don't know what were these but I imagined that they are crispy and sweet, can I do that, imagine the taste? Haha layankan je la ea

Actually there were more handcrafts and beautiful embroidery stuffs but I was too busy shopping so no pictures, sorry hihi!

Anyway, after all the shopping we finally went to a Halal restaurant situated about 30 minutes from the Longmen Grottoes.

Yes, that the sign of Halal. Name of this restaurant? Read it if you can cause I can't, sorry.

This was how the restaurant looks like from inside. Pretty decent just excuse the washroom part.
We (Muslim) performed our prayers here as the restaurant was kind enough to close one VIP dining room for us to pray. 

And so this was how our trip in Luoyang ended. I believe there are many more wonderful places to visit here in Luoyang but our trip was short thus we only had limited time to see it all. But one fine day I wish to return here and finish where I stopped, InshaAllah.

About 1.30 pm we finally leaved Luoyang and headed back to Xi'an by bus. I was so sad, no! I was devastated to leave Mr Leo. Its okay to leave this magnificent city but that adorable tour guide, haish..kidding! Hahaha! But it was...

The journey back to Xi'an supposed to take about 5 to 6 hours but we got lost and it took us 9 hours! It was such a waste of time and because of that we missed our Musical Fountain Square at Grand Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

I am not quite sure how did we got lost but perhaps it was because the bus driver was originated from Luoyang and when he was asked to drive to Xi'an, 'incident' happened. Didn't he owned a GPS? Yes he did, hmm.. But anyway, good experience (good but I wish it will never ever ever happen ever again). Heh.

Taking highway route gave us the opportunity to see this scenery.

Ron 93 and 95 available at the gas station.

Fall asleep and got up and suddenly its almost dawn. And yet, still far away to go.

We stopped by at one of the R&R (Rest and relax) pit stop along the way.

Restaurant available there.

And also mini mart to get some snacks.

To get Halal snacks, you gotta read at the back carefully and find the China's Halal symbol.

The R&R provided not only washroom, restaurant and mini mart but also one narrow alley with many ceramics based stuffs. Many were Chinese's tea pots with lovely design and size, vases with beautiful hand-painted arts (which I regretted I didn't buy it for my mother because I thought it will be available in Xi'an's Muslim street and which obviously it didn't. So if you like it, just buy it!) and of course Jades and many other things.

At about 6 pm we continued the long journey..

Police car, like those in the Chinese movie!

Toll plaza that looks like the front 'head' of a mini train. 

And finally at about 10.30 pm we safely arrived at Xi'an, Alhamdulillah and we were starving! I ate biscuits along the way that once arrived my face already looks like one gaaaahhh! But no worries, I'll let you know how to avoid this 'incident' in my future post in tips to travel in China (tips that I learnt the hard way..sob)

This is where we had our late dinner that night. I supposed it can be called as supper.
And thank god no one died due to starving but believe me, many where diagnosed with high blood pressure that night!
Just thinking of it back still able to make me frustrated, Astaghfirullahal a'zim..

The foods were tasty unfortunately we were too tired to open our mouths, except for that akak in the middle who seems to enjoyed her cup of tea.

After dinner we checked in to the same hotel as in Day 1 we arrived in Xi'an, the MengFei Hotel or also known as Flying Dragon Hotel. 

8821, the heaven I slept in after a long wasted tiring day Zzz 

I will continue with our final day in China in my next post. Many places to share in my last day there and this is because, our guide in Xi'an cramp everything in the final day.

Til then, Assalamualaikum w.b.t!
Have a barakah day and be grateful always!

Luoyang, China Day 4 (Part 1 - Longmen Grottoes)

Assalamualaikum w.b.t!

Alhamdulillah for yet another day.

Previously we went to see the Shaolin Temple and Forest of Pagoda as in my last post Dengfeng, China Day 3 Part 1 and Part 2. 

Today I am continuing with our visit to Longmen Grottoes, one of the three famous treasure houses of stone sculpture in China. It ranks first in number among all other grottoes in China, built over a period of 400 years, storing more than 2000 sculptures.

Longmen Grottoes is (other than Shaolin monastery) most suitable place to visit for those who interested to know more on Buddhism. Here, you will be able to witness the Buddhist sculptures craved by monks who devoted their lives for this religion hundreds of years ago. Therefore, I didn't take much photos of the Buddha's sculptures and focus more on the scenery there.

24th Oct 2014 (Day 4)

As always at 8.30 am after we had our breakfast, we begin the tour to the grottoes and it took us 30 - 40 minutes to get there from our hotel. From parking lot to main entrance is about 5 - 10 minutes walked while the whole tour was estimated around 2 hours. Did I mentioned Chinese here love walking? Yup I did. Well anyway, along the path to main entrance you can snap pictures of colorful flowers by the river and the bridge across Yi River.

Begin from here and further ahead to the entrance.  

Loving the view!

The main entrance to the Longmen Grottoes, about time the maple leaves changing colors.
Loving the autumn!

The grottoes were along the Yi River where grottoes on the right and river on the left. This was really nice especially in the morning with such a nice weather to walk. 

The first caves of sculptures seen on right and as further we went, the caves increased and the largest sculptures were at the center. Walk til you seen it all!

These sculptures used to be in colors but over the time colors on these lime stone sculptures diminished due to weather factor. Other than that, most of the sculptures are head-less because the head were destroyed by those who opposed Buddhism.

Most of it were at higher level so stairs were built later for convenient of visitors.
Imagine how did the monks went so up high and craved all that! 

Lots of caves to see and stairs to climb!

We gave up from the start, no climbing except for the largest sculptures and the stairs were like those in Batu Caves, Malaysia. (I'll put up the photos of these stairs later)

Not sure what it says but at this store is where we redeemed a postcard jut by showing our entrance ticket.
Only one postcard per ticket and need to claimed it ourselves. 

If you decided not to climb, just stay by the river and chill out.

After almost an hour and a half about 11.20 am, we moved to the other side by crossing the Yi River. Not using the earlier bridge but the second one and some of us did it by cycling, bicycle rental provided there, while others and that was me, just walked and enjoyed it. 

The bicycles were either 2 or 3 people.
And oh ya! This is Steven, agency's tour guide, and me. I kept on talking about Mr Leo that I forgot about Steven lol. He was very nice and helpful! Most of the time he became our translator and did most of the bargains!
And I needed the bicycle for posing purpose only haha  

Can you see a bridge there? Hardly isn't it.
That was where main entrance situated, and yup, we did walk thaaaat far!

From across the river, you'll be able to see the entire view of the grottoes.

Some guide on Yi River.

To get back to the main entrance was either turned back to the same path we took earlier (same view, what a waste! Don't do that) or crossed the second bridge and make a big u-turn back (with wonderful view awaited!) but not to worry as there was buggy ride waited for us there.

The buggy ride we took was not part of the package but it cost only 10 Yuan.

The ride brought us to the Pedestrians Street - Street for shopping, yeay!

Most of the things here were the crafts like key-chain, embroidery clothes, scarfs. 

And as always, there were fruits and nuts.

As well as pearls!  

In 1970, china started producing freshwater pearls in mussels, and today 99% of freshwater pearls come from China. Cultured pearl is grown by inserting a small piece of oyster tissue into the mollusk. The shell returned to the water, turned regularly and harvested. Oyster produce one pearl, while mussel can produce as many as 60 pearls of different shapes and colours.

Most of the shop dealers here were very nice and we did bargained for the goods but if you want to do so and really get a good bargain, buy more and keep insisting!

So that is it for now.
I'll continue on next post!
Till then, Assalamualaikum!