Huangshi City

Following a 2 ½ hour flight from Beijing to Wuhan and a two hour drive to our hotel, we woke up this morning in Huangshi City for the third and final phase of our U.S.- China Exchange experience.  That is – four of us woke up in Huangshi City.  Our U.S. delegation is now headed in different directions, as corresponding administrators and their schools are in different regions.  We now have individual interpreters and our experience is becoming more and more individual.  Today was Sunday.  We started our day with a wonderful buffet breakfast and then had a formal meeting and welcome with high ranking education officials from regional and local offices.  Following our meeting, the whole contingency piled in cars and headed for a day of getting to know Hubei & Huangshi City.

At the Huangshi Museum, we learned about the long standing history of mining of iron ore and other important metals and minerals.  Artifacts of tools and tunnels told the story of some 2,000 year of mining. 

Our second stop was the East Mountain, a breathtaking view of beauty and grandeur.  “Don Fang” takes its name from being located in the eastern region of Hubei Province.  Many tourists come to climb the mountain and visit the ancient Buddhist Temple.  Mr. Ye, Chen Da (my interpreter), and I were greeted by a fourth grader from a local primary school.  Zhou Si Cheng served as our tour guide for the Buddhist Temple.  Pictured is Zhou telling us about a water well that is over 1,000 years old.  Visitors can still draw water to wash their hands or feet when they reach the temple.  Inside one of the many buildings of the temple is an amazing display of over 1,800 miniature Buddha’s, each with a distinct face and expression.  I asked Mr. Ye if he was of the Buddhist faith.  With a smile he answered “No, but I do come and pray to Buddha once a year…right before my students take the national examination.”  I wondered if Buddha might help us on our upcoming OAA’s?

After the temple we had another very elaborate meal.  (I don’t think I am losing any weight…)  Following lunch, we traveled to visit the ancient Daye iron ore mining sites.  They are still in operation today.  We wound down our day by driving two hours to Yangxin County where we would spend the night in villas at the Lake of 1,000 Islands.  Our accommodations were once again fit for a king and the sights of the scenic lake nestled between the mountains were unquestionably worth the drive.