Xian Drum Tower

The Drum Tower in Xian was initially built in 1380 during the reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and was renovated twice in 1699 and 1740 in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is a two-storied post and panel structure, 34 meters (about 112 feet) high and 52.6 meters (about 172 feet) long from east to west as well as 38 meters (about 124 feet) wide from north to south. The architecture style of the Drum Tower is a combination of the styles of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the Qing Dynasty. However, the Drum Tower also has some innovative features. For example, it should be mentioned that there is no iron nail used anywhere in the Drum Tower.I love the lanterns and the colors used in the painting.
I paid five Yuan to beat the drum three times. It sounded great!
There is a performance inside every two hours. It was a great show as it combined incredible music and choreography.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

These pictures were taken on my last day of classes. We played Jeopardy to see who had learned the most, the girls or the boys. The girls won all six contests. In one class they won by a score of 59 to 9! I gave the kids my camera to take pictures, I have no idea what Joyce is doing. She was one of my very best students.This is a farewell poster one of the classes made for me. I will laminate it and keep it in my room at PCDS.
This is one of the boys teams.
This is one of the girls teams.

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery was established near Lhasa, Tibet in 1416 by Chojey Tashi Palden. It had four departments, of which Loseling, or "The Hermitage of the Radiant Mind," was the largest, housing more than three quarters of Drepung's ten to fifteen thousand monks. Drepung Loseling was especially close to the Dalai Lama incarnations; the Second Dalai Lama made his residence here in 1494, and subsequent incarnations maintained this link.

The first photo is for Chris Palmer. This is the library at the monastery. The pigeonholes contain Buddhist scriptures. Dewey Decimal is not in attendance!
This is a picture of the entrance to the main worship center.
This is a prayer wheel in constant motion maintained by water power.
This is a huge hall where the monks gather to pray.

Nunnery in Lhasa

These pictures were taken at a nunnery in Lhasa. I would like to know if this child's haircut has something to do with religion or is just the local style.
I think Georgia should order these hats for all the students at PCDS.
I paid one Yuan to add incense to this smoke stack. The odor is interesting but can be a bit overpowering.

Hua Shan Mountain

This is billed as one of the five most beautiful mountains in China. It is located about 40km west of Xian. I took a cable car half way up the mountain then hiked to the top. The rocks and trees were a dynamic combination. Be sure to ask Alexis what the rock type is!
I liked the combination of the tree, mountain, and sky. You can see the plain in the background. The structure is a Taoist temple.
I would love to know what the writing means.
This is a picture of the path to the top of the mountain.

Siguniang Mountain and Ba Leng Shan

This is the pass from Chengdu to the village of Ba Leng Shan. I am standing at 15000 feeet and am frozen solid. I can not even feel my feet. I recommend that you never take this trip in November! These are the mountains leading to the Tibetan plateau. There is a U-shaped glacial valley behind me and you can see that I am above the clouds in the valley. The peaks in the background are 19000 feet high.Dinner in Ba Leng Shan. This is it, no vegatables and no starch just goat on the grill.
There was no heat in the hotel! The hotel was at 12000 feet and there was ice in the toilet. The temperature never got above 32 degrees. I slept with all my clothes on and was still cold.
Pool anyone?
The people were Tibetan and this is a picture of one of the kids. Very Cute!

Muslim Community in Xian

This is a Mosque! As in many countries new religions incorporate a lot of the existing culture.This is the entrance to the Mosque. A lot of tourists come here and it is a real battle to get to the Mosque through the barrage of shopkeepers. I bought some superb ties here.
The food was the best I have eaten in China! They grill beef and mutton on skewers and serve it with the most fantastic bread I have ever eaten. I do not know what the spices are but it is much different than Sichuan food.

Xian Clay Soldiers

Hi everyone! I'm back on line. Here is a picture from the command center. The rest of the army is left, right, and in front of the command center.This is a picture of the right column and a can of diet coke.
This is also the right column.

Students reviewing for tomorrow's Rock Exam

Give me your cell phone number again! We can text message during the exam!

Deep thoughts! Metamorphic rocks are on the table.
Most of the students are using their five senses to study for the test, one of the girls is using the osmosis method.

I have taught igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock classification and identification. Tomorrow we will have a lab practical where the students will have to identify samples and answer questions. These students are having a look at the sedimentary rocks.

North Lake Park and Bass Preserve

Beautiful black swans!The bass seem to be evolving towards a land dwelling species. As you can see they have developed rudimentary legs and lungs. Since they are already carnivorous I suspect that fisherman may be the target of this evolutionary adaptation.These kids were having a great time feeding the delicious bass. The chain keeps them at a safe distance so that they do not loose any fingers.

Wenshu Monastaey

Wenshu Monastery is the best-preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu. It is the home of the Buddhist Association of Sichuan Province and Chengdu City.

Initially built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Wenshu Monastery was once called Xinxiang Temple. In 1681, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Cidu, an accomplished Buddhist monk, came to the monastery. He built a simple hut between two trees and for several years lived an ascetic life there. Legend has it when Cidu was being cremated; the statue of Wenshu (Bodhisattva Manjusri in Sanskrit) appeared in the flames, staying for a long time. So people regarded Cidu as the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva Manjusri. Thereafter, Xinxiang Temple became Wenshu Monastery.


This is a photo of one of the paintings on the wall it represents an important part of Buddhist culture.



I took this picture of the ceiling.





This is a picture from inside one of the main halls. I wish I could tell you more but I did not have a guide and there were no signs in English.

Ms. Xue Tao

Ms. Xue Tao

This is a picture from inside the pagoda, the gentleman is drinking tea and reading a book.



I love the bamboo! This is a lovely park beside the JinJing River in the south of Chengdu.


Xue Tao (758?-832) was born in Sichuan Province to Xue Yun, an official from Chang'an, and his wife Madam Fei. Xue Tao was composing poems by the age of eight. The child prodigy was also an excellent calligrapher and had extraordinary musical talent.

Qingcheng Mountain

I guess this is similar to a pig roast. You can see the head on the upper right; the rest of the pig is laid out for display.

This is a view of the mountain and the cable car. Michael (German teacher) and I took the car to the top and went hiking to a village and lake near the summit.

This is a lake near the summit that is only passable by ferryboat.

The Taoist Temple is located at the base of the mountain.


Qingcheng Mountain, originally called Old Man Mountain, is a famous as the founding place of Taoism. Located to the southwest of Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province, it covers an area of some 100 kilometers, the highest peak being 1600 meters above sea level. Surrounded by many peaks and densely covered by tall ancient trees, Qingcheng Mountain is known as the most secluded mountain in China. The main cultural relics include Jianfu Temple, Tianshi Cave and Shangqing Temple. It is one of the cradles of Chinese Taoism. Xhasng Daoling, the founder of Taoism, preached his doctrines here and left behind numerous stories and relics. Taoists regard the mountain as the "Fifth Dwelling of Immortals".

Chinese BBQ

Look at all the delicious choices on the skewers! There is tofu, beef, ox stomach, cucumber, chicken, tiny eggs, delicious bass, lotus root, onions, potato, mushroom, cauliflower, and a lot of stuff I can not identify. The plan is simple, you are given a tray and you make your selections, you then give the tray to the chef. In about ten minutes your food is returned barbequed to perfection. BUT there is an unexpected change! Just before you are given your selections they are all rolled in red pepper. Wow! The top of my head was sweating. I now have the words "no red pepper" written in Chinese to show the chef when I place my order.

My dinner consisted of two egg skewers, two chicken, two beef, and two cauliflowers. The food was excellent but hot, hot, hot.

Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet

The lady with Dell is our tour guide. We had the luxury of our own tour guide and private car for our stay in Lhasa. It was great because we could plan our own itinerary each day. This is the entrance to the temple.




This woman put down her prayer wheel and took a moment to wash her hands in the courtyard faucet.




This is a close-up of a painted beam.




This is a picture of the courtyard inside the wall but before you enter the temple. This is the oldest temple in Lhasa and the first one that the pilgrims visit. This temple has been in continous use for 1300 years. It is amazing to feel the polished beams inside and know that people have been chanting and praying here for so long. It gives you a real feeling of history and the mysterious past.