Urban Impression

[Billy]

Shell-like carving

[Billy]

Fangwaiguan (Belvedere)

Fangwaiguan was a two-storied European palace. Built in 1759, it faced south, sitting to the east of Xieqiqu. Outside, a pair of the second floor to the ground. The ceilings and walls on the two floors were covered with a Western-style landscape painting. On the eastern and western walls of the second floor hung four glass screens, each holding a figure painting on silk painted by J.Denis Attiret. There were three rooms on the first floor. In the central room stood a large mirror, on a wall in the west room hung a Western-style tapestry with patterns designed by Giussepe Castiglione; in the east room stood a Western-style mirror, reflecting the Dragon-Phoenix Fountain outside. It is said that this building used to be the place of worship for a Uygur concubine in favor with Emperor Qianlong. There were also a pair of round, white marble tablets, both 1.3m in diameter, bearing inscriptions in Arabic, one saying: Ottoman loves Allah, and allah loves Ottoman; and the other: Ali loves Allah, and Allah loves Ali. The tablets disappeared, leaving only photographs taken early in this century. Beyond the bridge in the southeast of Fangwaiguan was a Western-style octagonal pavilion.

The Labyrinth

Located to the north of Xieqiqu, the Labyrinth was an imitation of a Eupopean-style maze. In the center was a high, round-based Western-style pavilion, surrounded by layers of 1.2m-high brick walls that formed rectangles. The Labyrinth stretched 89m from north to south, 59m from east to west, the length of its walls totaling over 1,6000m. It was said that the emperor used to hold a lantern party in the Labyrinth on the evening of the Mid-autumn Festival (the 15th day of the eighth Chinese lunar month). The palace maids would run between the walls, carrying lotus lanterns made of yellow silk-the first to reach the pavilion in the center would get an award from the emperor. Thus the Labyrinth was also known as "Garden of Yellow Flowers." The Labyrinth was restored in 1989, with the pavilion built of white marble.

[Billy]

Xieqiqu (Harmonious Wonder)

Located in the southwest corner of Xiyanglou, Xieqiqu was an architectural group with the first European-style fountain. The main building had three stories, with three rooms on the top floor, and seven on each of the lower two floor, and seven on each of the lower two floors. It was connected by a pair of curving verandahs at both sides with twin tow-storied octagonal buildings in front, which served as orchestras. To the south was a large fountain in the shape of a flowering Chinese crabapple, with bronze water jets in the shapes of rams and ducks, and Western-style stone fish. To the north of the main building was a small fountain in the shape of a chrysanthemum. The fountains were fed from the Water Pavilion (a water tower) to the northwest of Xieqiqu, where water was drawn up by a mule-drawn waterwheel to the cistern at the top of the pavilion and flowed down through a copper pipe to the jets.

[Billy]

Some of the remains of the stone sculptures in Xieqiqu

[Billy]

One friend of mine sent the photos. I am not sure if I can post in this thread, but I want to share with you guys.

As one of the five best-known mountains in China, Mt. Huashan is located to the south of Huayin city, 120 kilometers east of Xian, in Shaanxi province, with an elevation of 2200 meters above sea level. In ancient times, Mt. Huashan was called Mt. Taihuashan. Seen from afar, the five peaks looks like five petals of a flower. Hence its name, Mt. Huashan (= five flowers). Today, it is listed as one of the renowned national scenic spots.

Mt. Huashan is famous for its breath-taking cliffs. Along the 12-kilometer-long winding path up to the top are awe-inspiring precipices, looking into which will take your breath away. Among the five peaks, East Peak (Facing Sun Peak), West Peak (Lotus Peak) and South Peak (Dropping Goose Peak) are comparatively high. Standing at the top of East Peak, one can enjoy the rising sun early in the morning. West Peak, in resemblance to a lotus flower, is the most graceful peak in Mt. Huashan. In addition, there are Middle Peak (Jade Maiden Peak) and North Peak (Clouds Stand). The middle peak got its name because of a story telling that once a young lady rode a white horse among the mountains. North Peak, like a flat platform in the clouds, is the place where the story Capturing Mt. Huashan Wisely took place.

Mt. Huashan boasts a lot of places of interest. Here and there stand Buddhist and Taoist temples, pavilions and buildings as well as sculptures and engravings. Of the ruins, Yuquan (Jade Spring), Zhenwu Palace, and Jintian Palace are, comparatively speaking, famous. Xiyue Temple, seven kilometers north of Mt. Huashan is the place where people of ancient times paid tribute to the Mt. Huashan God.

[Billy]

Every year one can take advantage of the best visiting times through May to October. At the foot of Mt. Huashan there are a variety of restaurants where comfortable accommodation is available. As well, one might can be refreshed in the restaurants on Qingke Stand, South Peak and North Peak as well as in temples, big or small.

The area of Mt. Huashan specializes in gingko, thatch weaving and traditional paper-cutting. The shops are mostly at the foot of the mountain, where one can rent walking sticks, gym shoes, warm clothes, electric torches and so on.

[Billy]

South Peak: Taoism Temples

The south peak is the main peak and also the steepest of Huashan. Legend has it that Laozi, the originator of Taoism, used to missionize here. Among the many temples, the Jintian Palace, the Zhenyue Palace and the Chunyang Temple are the listed among the state-level Taoist structures.

[Billy]

West Peak: Green Cloud Temple

The Green Cloud Temple is also called the Holy Mother Temple. It enshrines statues of three holy mothers. There is a large stone cut into three parts outside. It is the well-known "Ax Cutting Stone" for it looks as if it is being cut by an ax. Beside the stone, there is a huge ax. According to legend Baolian Deng (The Lotus Lamp), it was used by Chen Xiang to save his mother.

Central Peak: Jade Maiden Shrine

It is on the central peak of Huashan and stands on a natural stone tortoise. The Jade maiden was said to be Nong Yu -- daughter of Duke Mu of the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC). The story took place in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC): A young man named Xiao Shi was good at playing bamboo flute. Nong Yu, who fell deeply in love with the poor young man, gave up all her nabobism to marry Xiao. The lovers came to Huashan and lived here for the rest of their life. To commemorate the couple, people built the Jade Maiden Shrine.

[Elspode]

In our litigious society, a place like this would never be available for the common person to experience in this way. Those chain/board pathways are a personal injury lawyer's wet dream.
Excellent pics and info, as always, Billy. Thanks!

[xoxoxoBruce]

Damn, I think I'll past on that trip....leave it to the younger set to bring back pictures.

Billy, what have you been doing? Where are you now, still working for Thompson? Are you still having fun or has some woman tied you down?

I massaged the first picture a little.

[Billy]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Damn, I think I'll past on that trip....leave it to the younger set to bring back pictures.

Billy, what have you been doing? Where are you now, still working for Thomson? Are you still having fun or has some woman tied you down?

It is said that some people fall down to die from the stepupstairs every year.

Thanks for your kind concers. I changed to a new job into a Candian company this year. I live in Dalian, Liaoning. I think you can figure out where I am from Google Earth. No, I am looking for right one to make relation. Unfortunately, I have not met.