Today we started out our morning by catching a city bus to People's Plaza. We feasted on fresh baked rolls from a street vendor with fresh pineapple and meat skewers while roaming around the park. The beauty of watching people perform their morning rituals, such as marital arts, dancing and ball room dancing took us all a little by surprise. The gardens were meticulous and the scenery unforgettable. We enjoyed tea by a coy pond while some of us had the Chinese chair massages.
We then walked to an ancient part of town from the Qing Dynasty called Kuan, Zhai and Jing Alley. These streets are filled with shops, restaurants, bars and street vendors. Everyone purchased items traditional to the Chinese culture and some ventured into some very unique food, bar-b-qued rabbit head.
After strolling through the alleys we were entertained in a tea house with several tea masters performing the pouring ceremonies for us. We watched in awe while a tea master swung a copper tea pot all around his body, literally, to pour tea into various cups. We sampled a gamut of teas while sitting around traditional tea tables. It was something we all appreciated and took very seriously.
We ended the day by going to a modern mall section of town to eat and shop before turning in.
Tomorrow we will be visiting the Panda Breeding grounds and leaving Chendu for Xiun by sleeper train.
Dick and I went to a tea ceremony and were in awe also. Don't you love the street vendors? I also enjoyed watching the men and women performing the morning rituals in the parks, on roof tops, on streets, etc. There is a certain peace that surrounds you. I am enjoying reading your blog, as it brings back memories of when we were there.
ReplyDeleteLove, Mom
i miss tea :*(
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