Hangzhou highlights
We got back late last night, and then Sunday (today) was so unexpectedly beautiful that we were out from afternoon until late again. I am slowly going through pictures and compose some posts that might actually be interesting to read because I think that most of the people that are reading this will probably not have the chance to get to see some of the things we saw this week, namely the Expo (World's Fair) that is being held in Shanghai.
But first, a few more things we saw in Hangzhou. I really wanted to see the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, which we did for an awesome afternoon, and then once I did that I was set to see some of the more famous sights of Hangzhou. We had only one day left, so we went to the Lingyin Temple and West Lake.
Lingyin Temple is remarkable for its age (founded in 327) and that, unlike similar places we've seen, was not badly damaged during the Cultural Revolution. It is famous for its rock carvings, some of which are hundreds of years old and a seriously giant Buddha, one of the largest in China right now. Because Lingyin is an active Temple and Monastery, much of the statuary is relatively new. I don't know why this surprised me, except maybe I am so used to the creative side of Buddhist culture to be part of a distant past (and seeing examples mostly in museums) that I am not often face-to-face with contemporary Buddhist craft, save kitschy decorative stuff sold in Pier One.
This was a great visit with the kids, unusual for a temple built into a mountain. The famous rock carvings are along a stream, so there's some climbing around necessary to see some of them. Also, the successive altars up the hill are not built on a very steep or high hill. Even with the August heat and humidity, there was little complaining that morning.
After lunch we planned to spend a few hours exploring West Lake, on foot and by boat. The weather, however did not cooperate. We spend a few hours huddled for shelter from a terrific thunder storm on a small sight-seeing island in the middle of the lake, and then waited another half-hour for the boats to run again so we could return to terra firma. There could be a chance for us to return to Hangzhou within the next year, so hopefully we will be able to devote more time to West Lake.
Right after boarding the boat I remembered something about South China I had forgotten even after living there for two and a half years: in summer, thunderstorms can appear suddenly and violently.
But first, a few more things we saw in Hangzhou. I really wanted to see the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, which we did for an awesome afternoon, and then once I did that I was set to see some of the more famous sights of Hangzhou. We had only one day left, so we went to the Lingyin Temple and West Lake.
Lingyin Temple is remarkable for its age (founded in 327) and that, unlike similar places we've seen, was not badly damaged during the Cultural Revolution. It is famous for its rock carvings, some of which are hundreds of years old and a seriously giant Buddha, one of the largest in China right now. Because Lingyin is an active Temple and Monastery, much of the statuary is relatively new. I don't know why this surprised me, except maybe I am so used to the creative side of Buddhist culture to be part of a distant past (and seeing examples mostly in museums) that I am not often face-to-face with contemporary Buddhist craft, save kitschy decorative stuff sold in Pier One.
This was a great visit with the kids, unusual for a temple built into a mountain. The famous rock carvings are along a stream, so there's some climbing around necessary to see some of them. Also, the successive altars up the hill are not built on a very steep or high hill. Even with the August heat and humidity, there was little complaining that morning.
After lunch we planned to spend a few hours exploring West Lake, on foot and by boat. The weather, however did not cooperate. We spend a few hours huddled for shelter from a terrific thunder storm on a small sight-seeing island in the middle of the lake, and then waited another half-hour for the boats to run again so we could return to terra firma. There could be a chance for us to return to Hangzhou within the next year, so hopefully we will be able to devote more time to West Lake.
Right after boarding the boat I remembered something about South China I had forgotten even after living there for two and a half years: in summer, thunderstorms can appear suddenly and violently.
And then, just as quickly, the storm exits and the day continues. It was once a daily fact-of-life for us in Shenzhen, too.
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