National Museum of China

Living in China for a year gives me a chance to explore the history of a culture that I know little about.  I've studied various types of histories throughout my years of education and travel though I never had the opportunity until now to study China. I love reading about history and visiting local museums and there are a lot of museums in China. One of the best is the National Museum of China in Beijing located just east of Tian'an Men Square. There is a variety of items on display ranging from art, sculpture, pottery and bronze work.   

Song Dynasty Stone Carvings

During the recent APEC meetings in Beijing, the National Museum of China opened a new exhibit on the Silk Road in China. I honestly get so excited to see pieces that people created and used in their daily lives over a thousand years ago. In all of my years of visiting historic sites and museums, I don't think I've ever viewed anything in person that was dated b.c. However there are a few pieces in this collection that are. Here are a few of my favorite treasures from the Silk Road exhibit:

Bronze Vessel (beginning of 3rd century - 221 B.C.)

Brocade Pillow, Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.)

Brocade Armlet, Han-Jin Dynasty (202 B.C.- 420 A.D.)

 

Lacquer Sewing Box, Qing Dynasty

This museum has a lot of great items and I can't wait to explore more of the collections on display. Best of all, the museum is free to visit.

Do you have a favorite museum? What did you enjoy seeing lately?

Chinese HotPot

I'm so excited that I finally had hotpot for the first time! Before I ever arrived in LangFang I'd heard from my husband and others who had traveled to China before that hotpot was amazing and delicious and I had to have it. I can't believe it has taken me so long to get to a hotpot restaurant. 

There are two different types I'm told. One serves hotpot in individual pots, the other is served in one giant pot that everyone digs into. I currently have a horrible cold so I opted for the individual pots to avoid passing my illness on to others as much as possible. The restaurant we ate at is the hotpot chain, Xiabu Xiabu. They are located all over and are often found in malls. I've noticed that in China the top one or two floors of a mall are usually dedicated solely to sit down restaurants. The location near my apartment is part of a strip mall.       

At this restaurant, there are several long bars for seating. Once you order, they bring you an individual pot full of hot water and seasoning that you chose. I went for the spicy version tonight. Next they bring out your selection of raw vegetables and meats to add to your pot.  

Raw Beef

Raw Vegetables

Raw Fish

I received fresh herbs, vinegar and sauce packets to mix the sauce to my liking. Once the pot is heated up, you drop in the raw food to cook then pick it out with chop sticks, dip it in the sauce and enjoy! It was so good that I ate long after I was full. I can say for certain that I'll be back!   

Have you tried hotpot? What's your favorite Chinese food?

Lama Temple, Beijing

The very first place I visited in Beijing was the Lama Temple. I had never even heard of it, but I was traveling with the two foreign English teachers that I work with and it was on the top of one of their lists. Since everything was new to me at that point, I thought, why not? I'm so glad I went along. I was pretty impressed with the size of the temple. The complex is huge and I learned a little bit about Chinese culture and architecture while I was there. 

We arrived in Beijing around noon, too early to check into our hotel for the evening, so we brought our overnight bags with us. After we bought our tickets we entered the bag check lane which had two security guards with their batons checking everyone's bag as you enter the complex. I was the first of the three of us to enter so I step up and open my bag to check. Much to my surprise, both security guards stepped back from the table and turned their heads in the other direction as if they didn't even see me. My colleague said, "Tracy, just go through". I had never experienced that before and was shocked. As soon as the three of us passed, the guards resumed checking the bags of the Chinese tourists behind us. 

Since that time, I've experienced similar situations. As a foreigner there have been more times when I am waved through. However at the metro station I'm always expected to place my bag through the scanners just like everyone else.

The rest of my visit was uneventful. I leisurely walked through the enormous complex, snapping hundreds of photos trying to capture as many details as possible. I believe this is one of the largest temples in Beijing and I'm so happy to experience it on such a beautiful summer day.       

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Prayer Wheel

Burning Incense

 Where would you visit first in Beijing?

January Travel Plans

I'm in the middle of wrapping up my first semester teaching abroad in China. There are only a few weeks left until I have almost two months of vacation time. Our spring semester doesn't begin until March.  This vacation is the longest time I will have off during my first year in China so I am really looking forward to spending as much time traveling and soaking up every experience possible. Since the day I signed my contract, I was only certain that I would spend one year in China. Anything beyond that is unclear at this point. My plan than is to make the most of this year as possible. If I stay longer, great! If not, I don't want to have any regrets.

Here's the list of places I hope to visit:

Xi'an
I've been dreaming of visiting the Terracotta Warriors since my visit to Washington DC in 2010 to view the traveling exhibit at the National Geographic Museum. That was only a preview, now it's time for the real deal! Of course there are a few other sites to check out in this former capital city. With my love of Middle Eastern history, I'm also looking forward to visiting the Great Mosque and the Muslim Quarter.

Chengdu
I've loved the Giant Pandas since I was a child. They look so beautiful and soft and cuddly but can also be ferocious with their sharp claws. I'll be visiting the Giant Panda Sanctuary where 83 pandas live.  Of course a day trip down to Dafo, Le Shan to view the giant Buddha carved in sandstone is a must.

Cambodia 
In case you didn't know already, I love history, culture and architecture. Plane tickets are super cheap from China to other parts of Southeast Asia. I am so excited to visit this fabulous country and visit as many temples as possible during my stay. I also plan to take a bicycle tour, learn the local cuisine through a cooking class, and souvenir shop at local businesses that employ women and disabled people to support and give back to the community.  

Yunnan
I've heard this region is beautiful and warm during the winter months. I don't have any specific plans yet, but I know I have to experience this province before I leave China! This vacation might be my best opportunity to do so.

Luoyang
The Longmen Caves are on my list of sites to visit in China. I'm hoping to fit in a visit at the end of my trip on the way back up to Beijing. 

Datong
Near Datong are the Yungang Caves and the Hanging Temple. If I can't get there in February, I'll definitely make a long weekend trip there in the spring.  

Chengde
North of Beijing is a mountain resort area that the emperor would visit when the summers in Beijing would get too hot. Puning Si is a beautiful temple in the mountains that I'd love to visit. If I can't make it now, I'll take another long weekend up there once it warms up this spring.  

Beijing
This city is practically in my backyard so I'm sure there will be at least one trip to Beijing, if not several. Perhaps this will finally be the time I experience the Great Wall? 

If I can fit it in my plans I'd love to spend some time traveling down the Silk Road. Beijing has been advertising that it will push for tourists to visit this famous part of ancient Chinese history in 2015. I'd love to get to Inner Mongolia. However, this time of year is brutally cold and I've heard the train takes about 20 hours to get there from Beijing. By the end of this trip I may not have the time or funds to make it. I might have to save this spot on my wish list for another vacation/trip. By the end of this vacation I'll feel pretty comfortable that I've experienced a large portion of China. Of course, there is so much to see that I'll really only be seeing a tiny fraction of what there is to explore.    

What are your holiday vacation plans? Do you have any trip suggestions for me?

Favorite Local Restaurant

I'm so happy that after living in China for a short time, I have discovered my new favorite local restaurant. The name translates to mean "Happy". This restaurant is a very short walk from my apartment, very inexpensive and quite delicious! On my list of 101 goals, I listed finding a new favorite restaurant and I'm happy to have found one so soon. Here's a look at my new favorite place.

The menu is all in Chinese with no pictures:

 

Each time I've eaten at this restaurant to date I've gone with someone who reads Chinese. Now I've ordered enough dishes that I can point to the item I ordered before and memorized the location on the menu. Let's just hope they don't change the menu anytime soon! Otherwise I can also show them the picture I took during a previous visit. Of course I could also be adventurous and just point to something and give it a try.

Everything I've had at this restaurant so far has been delicious and affordable. For three people, the total bill is usually between $6-$8 USD. It depends on what you order though as the price per dish varies.

Here is a variety of dishes that I've tried so far:

White Rice

Beef & Onions

Egg & Leek

Chicken & Green Peppers

Fish

Pork with tofu wrap

Squid with Peppers

Green Beans with Pork and Peppers

My all time favorite is the green beans with pork and peppers. I order it every time I go there. The Chinese style of eating is to order several dishes, place them in the center of the table and everyone digs in. Usually each person will have their own bowl of rice that will serve as your plate as you eat. And of course chopsticks are the only utensil served except for the occasional spoon.

By the look of the place I can honestly say that if this restaurant was back in the states, I wouldn't even think of eating there. However, the food is always fresh and everything is cooked in a hot pan. The food goes directly from the pan to the plate to your table. The restaurant is quite popular with the locals as well. On each visit there is a flurry of to go and delivery orders in addition to the customers seated in the small dining area.  

What do you like about your favorite local restaurant?