China Trip SlideShow

Our trip to China was really good. We loved catching up with Bradley and spending time with him. It was also really nice getting to know Jing Jing a little better. We were very lucky to meet her family and we felt very spoilt. It was a special holiday where we learned so much about a lovely family of people from China.
We will go back and enjoy Sichuan hospitality again.

Here is a selection of photos from our trip for those good friends who just want sit back and see the highlights. If you have a taste and you want to see more, read my recent posts. Please feel free to comment.
If that is not enough, go there and experience it for yourself. You will realise how lucky you are.

We really enjoyed this small part of China. We have a taste and we are planning to return and explore some more.

Sichuan Panda Sanctuary

While we were in Chengdu we felt we had to go out and visit the Pandas. This is a place where research is curently being carried out on the Panda. With so much of the Panda habitat disappearing they are in real danger of becoming extinct. What a shame that would be. These creatures are so placid and seem content to sit back and munch on their bamboo.

We were impressed by how close we could to the Pandas and had our timing been in line with theirs we could have had the opportunity to hold a young Panda. We were later in the day and we got to wander and enjoy the antics of the different Pandas out in their enclosures. They looked very healthy and most contented. A lot of effort seems to go in to ensuring that they have a good life.

Spot the resemblance! Ruth and one of her friends.

I am sure this one is smiling because he is happy to see us.

So who is watching who, here? I am sure they thought the caucasions were sent out to keep them amused while we there.

This guy looks kind of cute and cuddly sitting up and chewing on his bamboo.

Teenagers behaving like teenagers do this playful fight went on for qutie a while. It resembled tag wrestling with up to four of them involved at a time. I was amazed by how quiet and gentle they were even though they play fighting.

I know of three little boys who used to behave just like this.

Now what would you do if this was racing toward you in the wild?

 The red Pandeas are smaller and I believe that there are a few more of them in the wild but they too are seriously endangered. Their faces are very expressive and they do have more energy.

This one has just realised I was watching him with my camera. I think he stopped just to pose.

I can think of some of my students who look similar to this one.

The red pandas seem to spend more time climbing trees. This one was taking a shortcut using the branches of two trees. He was also very agile as he moved through the trees.

Beichuan Earthquake Site

Day three of our holiday in Brad's little corner of the world was a very interesting day indeed. Actually it was a sobering outing for both Ruth and myself. We spent the day visiting Beichuan memorial park site, where you can view first hand the devastation from a powerful earthquake.

Some background information.

On Monday May 12, 2008, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck the Chinese province of Sichuan. The epicenter was in Wenchuan County, 80 km (50 mi) west-northwest of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. There is widespread destruction in Sichuan and nearby provinces.

The earthquake was felt as far away as Beijing (1,500 km away) and Shanghai (1,700 km away).

The Sichuan earthquake killed tens of thousands of people. 

 The figures below appear to be the most accurate and have featured on a number of websites,

 

69,197 people died, 374,176 people were injured, and 18,377 people were lost during the earthquake.

The county town, Beichuan, which prior to the earthquake had a population of 20,000, was virtually flattened by the earthquake.  Among the devaststation were the Beichuan High School campus, where more than 1,000 students lost their lives and the  Beichuan's  government building which collapsed. 80% of the Beichuan county's buildings are said to have collapsed.

It has been  made into a memorial park.

 For us we still had the Christchurch Earthquake on our mind and it was only days after the Japan Earthquake in Fukushima. However nearly 4 years after this earthquake we got walk through the streets of Beichuan and read some of the stories but most of all understand the absolute insignificance that mankind has when it comes to preventing the destructive force of these large scale natural disasters. We are all in the hands of destiny and it is really a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

The plaque stands in front of a memorial park where there is mass burial site for those who died here. I believe that 10,000 bodies are buried here. The hillside in the background collapsed as a result of the earthquake.

Ruth and Jing Jing just across the road from the Beichuan Hotel. The building behind them has no ground floor. The landslide triggered by the earthquake is evident behind and to the side of this building.

This building below the Beichuan Hotel is now supported by the vehicles that were inside the vehicle workshop at the time.

Amongst all of this ugly destruction a new kind of beauty can always be found.

Why do some buildings topple others remain standing and all around them there is so much rubble.

This building has a number of every day articles still visible and where they ended up.

In the background of this picture is the site of the High School where the most of the students were buried by the landslide. The only part of the school now visible are the flagpole and the basketball goal.

The strain of the pressure on these buildings must have been amazing.  The window here must have exploded out as this solid brick building twisted and heaved during the tremors. BY the way the window ledge was solid stone!

 We were left wondering about the recent earthquakes at home in NZ and in Japan. Why do they happen, and what more could be done to ensure peol[ple are safe. Mianyang is a city that is leader in nuclear energy research in China. Apparently they were able to shut their reactors down and avoid a nuclear disaster. I wonder if perhaps the long term possibilities of nuclear power are as bad as the effects of nuclear weapons. 

Just because we can.... Does that mean we should?

Ape King Cave and Lovers Bridge

Day two and Jing Jing and her father picked us up from our hotel and took us for a drive into the mountains. The goal was to cross a swing bridge and visit the Ape King Caves. THese were both ver high up in the mountains. We also had some extended family members with us, uncles and aunts of Jing Jing. To get up to the bridge we had to take a gondala ride. It was high, very step and very open. But the view was amazing and as we climbed up in the cable car we were treated to some impressive displays of blossom on the side of the mountain.

Looking back down when we were about halfway up the mountain. Jing Jing and her Dad seemed very happy.

The lovers bridge was slung out over the valley below. It was a long way down.

The villages with their crops of yellow flowers on the terrraces made a pretty backdrop.

When we got off the cable car ride it was still a bit of a climb up to the bridge. All the time we were treated to some inspiring views across rugged mountains where there are numerous wild animals. Although a little hazy it was less polluted that down near the city.

The local guide in traditional costume with a good view of the bridge behind her. She was not leading us though.

High in the mountains. Spectacular views of the valley

The Lovers bridge. NOw you can see it was really high!

From here we entered the wonderlandf of the Ape King Cave. This is a significant limestone cave system where there have been a number of interesting archeological finds. The cave formations were well lit with some very intereesting effects.

This my favourite photo from inside the cave with the reflection and the lighting it seems like a magical fairyland.

The reflections and the lighting in this cave was surreal making one feel like they were in another world.

 

 

Coming down after spending time inside the cave involved an exciting luge ride on train tracks. It a fast spiral track down to restaurant for lunch.

Jing Jing really enjoyed the thrill of the speedy ride down. What a great outing we feel privileged to have had such a wonderful group of tour guides for this day out. Thanks Jing Jing, Dad and family, it was a special day for us.