Thursday, November 19, 2009

Huangshan - The stone coming out of nowhere


Huangshan Day 1
Originally uploaded by
S. Zachko
For ages, people can not understand how this huge stone ends up at the tip of the peak and believe the stone has some kind of magic power - fertility. People will bride the stone by stocking coins in a crack and pat the stone. Poor park ranger has to keep cleaning the coins but not taking the coins. It is a brutal task when it is wet, cold and dark.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Huangshan - Heart Lock


Huangshan Day 1
Originally uploaded by
S. Zachko
People believe to keep two lovers' hearts attached to each other, these two lovers should buy a lock together and make promises to each other. Then they attach this lock in one of the chain and throw the key over the cliff.

What do you think?

Monday, November 16, 2009

Huangshan - Pine


Huangshan Day 1
Originally uploaded by
S. Zachko
Yellow Mountain itself likes groups of giant granite. There are only dusts or derbies stuck between stones. Those pine tree manages to stick their root in such a tiny space and grow in a such elegant ways. Depending on the altitude where those pines grows, people naming differently. For those pines grow at the lower altitude areas, people call them pony tail pine because their leaves/branches only grow one direction. For those pine trees grow at the higher altitude areas, people call them Yellow Mountain Pine.

No matter how the tree grows or leaves are heading, their roots are so strong and firm that make those trees grow more generations to come.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Tunxi- Chinese Ink Stones


Old Street in Tunxi
Originally uploaded by
S. Zachko
One of four major Chinese traditional stationary: Yieng Tai (a.k.a. Chinese Ink Stone). The better ink stones come from the oldest mines. There are four major patterns in the ink stone. Fish Scale is one of them and I really can not remember the rest. It will be a good excuse to go back. The design of the ink stones could be very elaborated. Some of ink stones are just for holding to cool down the body temperatures in the hot sunny days..

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Tunxi - Old Street


Old Street in Tunxi
Originally uploaded by
S. Zachko
This is a very interesting street in Tunxi - Old Street. This street could dates all the way back in Ching dynasty or older.

Huai-Cho is famous for the supply of traditional Chinese stationary: brush pens, Ying Tai, Ink stick and paper. This is a street for one shop shopping for all of them.

Huai-Cho is also famous for its teas. Well informed by all sorts of travel guides, there are four most famous teas in China, and Huai-Cho produces three of them: Mao-Fong green tea, Monkey King green tea and Chi-Meng black teas. Well, you might be able to find all of them on this street. However, this street targets tourists not real tea drinkers.. :)

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Tunxi - Breakfast


Breakfast in Tunxi
Originally uploaded by
S. Zachko
Even though this was just a normal breakfast for local people, we thought this was unforgettable breakfast we've ever had. After 23 hours trip and jet lag, we just wanted to have a very simple and delicious breakfast before the big hike.

One thing never occurs to me is that there is no milk cows in An-Hua province; therefore, it is very expensive to get a cup of milk. Cream powder and canned coffee are the better substitutes.

Months after the trip, I still miss those little pickle dishes and congee...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Shanghai - Fresh Crab at Pu Dong Airport

It was the crab season at that time of the year. We are expecting to have some crabs in Shanghai. However, it surprised me that the place we actually saw and ate the crabs (live) one is at the Pu Dong international airport. It is not only that we can buy live crabs in the airport, but also restaurants in the airport could cook them for you with minimum 15 RMB.

The crab meats are sweet and shells are very crispy. It was an interesting memory to have crabs in the airport...