First built in 1957, it is a uniquely large park in the city proper. The name was derived from the Qianling Mountain that lies in the park, which is the most famous mountain in southern Guizhou. As one of the noted gardens on the Guizhou plateau, it boasts clear waters, green mountains, tranquil forests and old temples. There are eight predominant scenic locations: Sanlingwan, Macaque Garden, Hongfu Temple, Kylin Cave, the Zoo, Qianling Lake, Two-Dam Wind-Rain Bridge, and the Winding Mountain Path.

Pensive monkey

Baby monkey and momma

Pensive monkey eating an orange

QianLing Lake

From the entrance to the park until the main quad there is a small river that runs along the middle with walls and lily pads like in the pictures.

One of the many statues along the way to the Hongfu Temple. The red ties have wishes written on them and they are also placed in the trees. Supposedly, if a monkey grabs one of the ties, then the wish will come true.

From one of the watchtowers in the park, overlooking Guiyang City

Don't know what exactly this is but I do know that it tests if you are kind-hearted or not. Basically, you stand at a distance put out your hand, close your eyes and walk towards the wall. If you touch the red heart on the wall then it means you are "kind-hearted"

On the way to the campsite.... near Huangguoshu waterfall Bridge over the river

Ma and baby ma ....

no comment ....

Ducks in a small pond in the Buyei village

Buyei woman carrying her grandchild

Entrance to Buyei village

Cows at work

Buyei women and child

The city is a conglomeration of several towns over a large area. Although the area is administered as a city, it has a dispersed and multicentered settlement pattern. The city’s name derives from the first syllables of the three largest towns: Liuzhi, Panxian, and Shuicheng. Liupanshui is also culturally diverse, with one quarter of its population belonging to minority nationalities such as the Yi and the Miao.

Video: First attempt - Chinese Wishing Lantern

Walking downtown in Liupanshui

One of the many parks and lake areas.

Kiddie park area

Literally....

Jo and I peddling the boat around the lake

The Cool City Palace

In front of the palace... chinese calligraphy and monument

JFlo and I sitt'n pretty

Second attempt to send off the Chinese wishing lantern

We made it!

Qingyan Ancient Town, one of the most famous historical and cultural towns in Guizhou Province, lies in the southern suburb of Guiyang. As an ancient town, covering an area of 741 acres, Qingyan Town was originally built in 1378. Nowadays, because of its long history and strong cultural atmosphere, Qingyan Ancient Town has become an attractive destination for numerous domestic and foreign tourists.

There are over 30 types including monasteries, temples, cabinets, caves, courtyards and palaces. All of them were delicately designed by the skillful architects of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. A number of exquisite articles, such as the stone sculptures of Ciyun Temple and wooden sculptures of Shoufo Temple are all worth a look. You can visit the ancient business streets to admire the elegant classical wooden houses. Also there are famous local snacks, such as Qingyan tofu, rice tofu and rose sugar.

I couldn't keep my eyes off this baby on the bus........has the bluest eyes.

Map of QingYan

From the top of a tower, over looking the fields.

Looking through the stones of the faux Great Wall

Looking above the thatched buildings towards the mountains of Guiyang.

One of my students, Dary and I in front of one of the temples.

These two little girls came up to me (actually they asked my students) and asked if they could take a picture with me. They were so cute, piao liang!

Dary and I at the faux Great Wall of China

On the way to QingYan....in Huaxi

The typical delicacies of this city...... Tofu and a type of rose porridge.... more tofu and rose candy.

My Chinese Host Family - Zhang Family

Brad, Jo, and I walking around Chengdu and taking in the sights.

Beijing, PRC, Tuesday, September 09, 2008 – Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter traveled to the People’s Republic of China last week to swear in 36 new Peace Corps Volunteers, the 13th group of Volunteers to be sworn in since the program’s inception in 1993. Director Tschetter was joined by American Consul General Jim Boughner, and Madam Yang Meng of the China Education Association for International Exchange.

Of the 36 new Volunteers, 13 have previously served in the Peace Corps in Bulgaria, Georgia, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Benin, Cameroon, Ghana and Kazakhstan, and have now come to provide additional service to the people of China.

Speaking of this dynamic group and how they will contribute to America’s continued warm friendship with China, Director Tschetter stated: “We are pleased to be able to swear in this outstanding group of Volunteers, and know that their service will serve to strengthen the strong ties we have with the country and the people of China.”

Each of the 36 Volunteers will be using their backgrounds in education to teach English at a collegiate level to university students in the central provinces of China. Director Tschetter had the opportunity to travel to the city of Leshan, where he visited universities hosting Volunteers. The Director spoke with currently-serving Volunteers about their experiences, and was warmly welcomed by university administrators.

One administrator described the impact Volunteers have on the students: “Many of our students come from rural areas and are not wealthy. The opportunity for them to learn English from a native speaking English teacher is very special and gives them a unique opportunity. The Volunteers are like a prize that every university wants.”

Currently, there are 115 Volunteers serving in the People’s Republic of China, with 516 Volunteers having served since the program’s inception. The first group of Volunteers arrived in China in 1993 as part of a pilot education project in Sichuan province. Volunteers currently teach English at over 60 universities, including five medical colleges and three vocational colleges.

The Peace Corps is celebrating a 47-year legacy of service at home and abroad, and a 30-year high for Volunteers in the field. Since 1961, more than 190,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where Volunteers have served, including the People’s Republic of China. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.

The Jin Li Alley is situated right next to the Wu Hou Shrine. Funded by the Wu Hou Shrine Museum, its constructions took 3 years to complete and was opened to the public on 1 November 2004. Jin Li is a folk street exhibiting the customs and cultures of ancient Ba and Shu states, and also the ancient Shu, Han civilisations of the Three States Era (around 220AD to 265AD). See the movie "Red Cliff" by John Woo.......awesome movie!

Being the first archaistic street (or alley, in fact) to adopt the Western Sichuan architecture style, Jin Li Folk and Relaxation Street is 350m long with tea houses, inns, pubs, restaurants, opera stages, snacks, souvenirs, etc., combining the Sichuan Tea Culture, the Sichuan Cuisine Culture, the Sichuan Wine Culture, the Sichuan Embroidery Culture, the Sichuan Opera Culture, shopping and tourism as a whole.

A little history lesson for y'all!

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

At first, you see them in cages. It is a sad sight, but later you find out that the pandas are not comfortable in the hot and humid weather. So they put them in these cages and keep them nice and cool. The research center is beautiful. It includes a lake, areas where the red pandas play, and bamboo growing all around. After visiting the pandas, the group and I went to the downtown area and our Laoshi (teacher) recommended that we go to a bookstore/coffee/tea bar where we all hung out and played the piano. Later on we ended up eating some yummy dim sum and walking around the city. As always, we all ended with our weekend ritual: pi jio.

(Bottom Picture) My mei mei (little sister) and I working on calligraphy.

- My name (Ma Tian) in Chinese characters

- Working on calligraphy

- My own version of a panda

- Some PC volunteers and their host families after the activity.

- "Ai" Love - Chinese character

ok ok ok, I know. I've finally come around to starting a blog and I know its been too long........wait a minute.....its only been two weeks! So this was my realization today, "Its only been two weeks!?!"

In two weeks, I have:

- made 37 new friends

- been accepted into a Chinese family

- learned and practiced a good amount of Chinese

- can distinguish the difference between the putonghua phonemes q,s,t,x,zh, and c

- learned that zhou has many different meanings in Chinese

- eaten so much jiao zi (dumplings) that they're coming out of my ears

- visited the biggest sitting Buddha in the world in Leshan - Da Fo

- danced at discos (clubs) and drank a lot of pi ju

- flown over the North Pole, Mongolia, and China

- seen a drag show in Arlington, VA

- been stared at, everytime I go out

- been startled by the traffic and driving abilities of Chinese drivers

- lost about 8lbs and one dress size

- taken some amazing pictures of this wonderful city

- been on a plane for more than 13 hours

- participated in many group discussions and wasted a lot of poster paper

- shook hands with a monkey

- been amazed that you can get your ears cleaned while drinking beer at a bar

- missed my family and friends........and Kitty

- sang two Chinese children's songs

- watched the olympics (volleyball and ping pong) and laughed with my Chinese grandma (who reminds me of my own grandma, Meche)

- practiced Yoga with my Chinese mom

- accepted that I am a "big jie jie" (sister)

- learned that babies are potty trained very early and don't use diapers.... ever.

- taught a six year old Chinese boy how to count in English

- been called "butiful" by Chinese men (thats just to boost my own self - esteem)

- accepted my new Chinese name, wo jiao Ma Tian (My name is Ma Tian)

- slept on the hardest beds ever but the chronic back pains are gone!

- still haven't learned how to properly use a squat toilet

And Finally.................. LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS IN CHINA!

Disclaimer: The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.