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Jonathan Yarak | profile | all galleries >> Travel >> Study Abroad in Beijing, Fall 2005 >> WuTai Shan >> Day 2 - Qiao Family Courtyard, Pingyao Old City, Taiyuan tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Day 1 - Train, Mountain, Random Garden | Day 2 - Qiao Family Courtyard, Pingyao Old City, Taiyuan

Day 2 - Qiao Family Courtyard, Pingyao Old City, Taiyuan

On Day 2 we got up and hit the streets at 8, making our first stop at the Qiao Family Courtyard. It was the courtyard of a wealthy family in the late 1700s and remains well preserved. It was also made famous by the Zhang Yimou film "Raise the Red Lantern," which was filmed entirely in the courtyard (hence the ridiculous number of red lanterns). From there it was on to Pingyao Old City where we spent most of the afternoon. Pingyao is another one of the few cities in China with it's city walls intact, though they had nothing on Xi'an's city walls. We also visited the first bank of China (at least I think that's what they said it was), which is located within the city. Afterwards, we headed back to Taiyuan, hung around for a bit, and then caught the train back to Beijing.
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Some corn laying outdoors in the natural refrigerator.
Some corn laying outdoors in the natural refrigerator.		 Ting walking with all of the laoshis.
Ting walking with all of the laoshis.		 The Qiao Family Courtyard entrance.
The Qiao Family Courtyard entrance.		 One of the main inner courts of the courtyards, this was were a large portion of Raise the Red Lantern was filmed.
One of the main inner courts of the courtyards, this was were a large portion of Raise the Red Lantern was filmed.
Some furniture inside one of the many rooms. Photographers reflected in the mirror.
Some furniture inside one of the many rooms. Photographers reflected in the mirror.		 A highly intricate nine dragon screen.
A highly intricate nine dragon screen.		 Props from Raise the Red Lantern.
Props from Raise the Red Lantern.		 Intricate woodwork under the eaves.
Intricate woodwork under the eaves.
And on the end of the roof tiles.
And on the end of the roof tiles.		 An elaborate nine dragon lamp, one of only a handful of its kind in China.
An elaborate nine dragon lamp, one of only a handful of its kind in China.		 The Ten Thousand Person Mirror Ball.
The "Ten Thousand Person Mirror Ball."		 Cool little lion at the entrance to one of the courtyards.
Cool little lion at the entrance to one of the courtyards.
Red Lantern!
Red Lantern!		 Courtyard architecture.
Courtyard architecture.		 More lanterns.
More lanterns.		 Aldri showing off her new hairstyle.
Aldri showing off her new hairstyle.
More cool lions.
More cool lions.		 Red lanterns lining the main walkway.
Red lanterns lining the main walkway.		 More cool architecture.
More cool architecture.		 Tian and Wang laoshis waiting patiently on the bus.
Tian and Wang laoshis waiting patiently on the bus.
Stephen and Uyjien passionately singing some Celine Dion.
Stephen and Uyjien passionately singing some Celine Dion.		 The hairstyle really adds to the diva look.
The hairstyle really adds to the diva look.		 Uyjien's stylin' new shades.
Uyjien's stylin' new shades.		 Old Pingyao, inside the walls.
Old Pingyao, inside the walls.
One of the many weapons of war found atop the walls.
One of the many weapons of war found atop the walls.		 No tossing! I think I saw an ad for a sport like this in Obscure Sports Quarterly...
No tossing! I think I saw an ad for a sport like this in Obscure Sports Quarterly...		 The watch tower at the main entrance to the city.
The watch tower at the main entrance to the city.		 Nice shot of Alissa, Becca, Joyce, and Aldri.
Nice shot of Alissa, Becca, Joyce, and Aldri.
I like the sunlight on his hair next to the various contrasting styles...
I like the sunlight on his hair next to the various contrasting styles...		 Fruit vendor, fortunately this guy wasn't constantly using that megaphone, but there were plenty who were.
Fruit vendor, fortunately this guy wasn't constantly using that megaphone, but there were plenty who were.		 A typical store along the main drag. Note clock that isn't actually a clock.
A typical store along the main drag. Note clock that isn't actually a clock.		 An atypical store along the main drag...
An atypical store along the main drag...
Can I play in the sun with you guys?
"Can I play in the sun with you guys?"		 Lord of the Manner.
Lord of the Manner.		 Calligrapher inside the first bank.
Calligrapher inside the first bank.		 Alissa and Anson have little but the clothes on their bodies.
Alissa and Anson have little but the clothes on their bodies.
Joyce, Alissa, Aldri and Anson being goofy.
Joyce, Alissa, Aldri and Anson being goofy.		 Awww.
Awww.		 Awww. Wow I have a lot of dog pictures...
Awww. Wow I have a lot of dog pictures...		 I'm trying to make up to the dog gods for having eaten dog meat over the National Holiday break okay?
I'm trying to make up to the dog gods for having eaten dog meat over the National Holiday break okay?
Yummy food. Actually it wasn't that great.
Yummy food. Actually it wasn't that great.		 Anson getting ready to dig in.
Anson getting ready to dig in.		 Aww how sweet... Joyce and Aldri having a bite to eat.
Aww how sweet... Joyce and Aldri having a bite to eat.		 An old homestead.
An old homestead.
Kids sorting food.
Kids sorting food.		 More cute dogs.
More cute dogs.		 Li laoshi wanted to race me to the bus, so I said Go! and took a picture of her instead.
Li laoshi wanted to race me to the bus, so I said "Go!" and took a picture of her instead.		 Li laoshi looking down on me.
Li laoshi looking down on me.
Back in Taiyuan now, busy intersection.
Back in Taiyuan now, busy intersection.		 Cool sculpture in the main square.
Cool sculpture in the main square.		 More faint sunlight over the square.
More faint sunlight over the square.		 Goofing about, wasting time before catching the train.
Goofing about, wasting time before catching the train.
Fountain in the square.
Fountain in the square.		 Me after taking the previous picture.
Me after taking the previous picture.		 Us at the pizza buffet we found.
Us at the pizza buffet we found.		 The effect the strange pizza-type food had on us.
The effect the strange pizza-type food had on us.
Roommates...
Roommates...		 The Taiyuan train station.
The Taiyuan train station.		 Our CIEE group in front of the station.
Our CIEE group in front of the station.		 Another shot of the same.
Another shot of the same.
David, Anson, Uyjien, Alissa, and Aldri hanging out in the train station.
David, Anson, Uyjien, Alissa, and Aldri hanging out in the train station.		 Me and the lovely ladies of my group. Thanks so much to Li laoshi for giving me all girls! hehehe...
Me and the lovely ladies of my group. Thanks so much to Li laoshi for giving me all girls! hehehe...
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