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The great loop of China - April 2018 - Page 5

Day 13 - Thursday, 26 April 2018

Around the bottom of the wall

The morning markets of Xian

Today I am going to Chongqing, I have been there before, that journey will likely be described in laborious detail below.
For some unknown reason, all the trains to my desired station in Chongqing were canceled, I knew this a month before when I tried to buy a ticket only to find on the day of placing the order the services had vanished. It seems on my exact day of travel, services to Chongqing from Xian are moving from one station to a different brand new station, so many services are cancelled, and buying a ticket was not easy. Therefore I am departing Xian very late, 2:20pm, and making a 5.5 hour journey to Chongqing, but I digress, I will describe that in detail further below. Before that description happens, my late departure meant I had time for one last lap of Xian.

My final lap of the great city of Xian took me around part of the bottom of the great city wall. Not the whole way again, although I would have if I had time!
It was very beautiful, enhanced by the great weather today. I saw all the usual Chinese park life attractions as you will see below.
Before heading to the wall I did a morning stroll through the Muslim quarter and observed sheep and other other creatures still with most of their flesh before they are carved laboriously (word of the day) into small chunks suitable for feeding onto sticks and char grilling. Actually there were a lot of butchers along here carving up entire beasts in the street for all to see, very interesting.

After my lengthy stroll I had just enough time left to return to my hotel and add a bit of charge to my phone in preparation for the 5.5 hour high speed train ride south to the Chongqing megalopolis.

The great loop of China - April 2018 - The main muslim food street, surprisingly many things were open quite early. You have to get up pretty early in Xian to not be able to buy parts of a

The main muslim food street, surprisingly many things were open quite early. You have to get up pretty early in Xian to not be able to buy parts of a sheep on a stick.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Most of the people living here were airing their captive birds in the sun.

Most of the people living here were airing their captive birds in the sun.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I wonder if these sticks will be sitting here all day in the sun, adding some flavour from the passing smokers and street sweeping machines? Notice th

I wonder if these sticks will be sitting here all day in the sun, adding some flavour from the passing smokers and street sweeping machines?
Notice they use fresh sticks, not the machine prepared skewers you would normally expect.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I am really happy with this photo, great light, really captures the street action. All the scooters are electric, theres no such thing as a petrol sco

I am really happy with this photo, great light, really captures the street action. All the scooters are electric, theres no such thing as a petrol scooter anymore.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - The local recycling man is probably thrilled he found a washing machine or whatever that thing is to collect.

The local recycling man is probably thrilled he found a washing machine or whatever that thing is to collect.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Just one of about 50 butcher shops airing their delicious meats.

Just one of about 50 butcher shops airing their delicious meats.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Now I start my amble around a quarter of the wall, here is the moat. The moat was nice and did not smell at all. Many people were enjoying the moat.

Now I start my amble around a quarter of the wall, here is the moat. The moat was nice and did not smell at all. Many people were enjoying the moat.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I once again defeated everyone at ping pong. I am still undefeated.

I once again defeated everyone at ping pong. I am still undefeated.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - To celebrate my undoubted ping pong superiority, a new dance has been created in my honour. Actually its the same dance every grandma group does. I th

To celebrate my undoubted ping pong superiority, a new dance has been created in my honour.
Actually its the same dance every grandma group does. I think I know it well now through my detailed and ongoing study of the dancing habits of Chinese citizens. I am writing a book.


The first of the three long journeys

The long train journey from Xian to Chongqing

I write this as we finally approach Chongqing West station. Unfortunately this brand new high speed rail station has opened before the metro line to it can be completed, how embarrassing! This means that despite getting in quite late (for me), I will still face another logistical hurdle once I arrive in Chongqing. Now I will describe the train ride from Xian to almost arriving at Chongqing.

When I sat down, the guy next to me was super excited, he had never sat next to a foreigner before, and to quote him 'I hope its ok, I have so many questions for you!!!!'
OK, I will practice Chinese speaking and you can speak to me in English. He was on his way home from work, he does 22 days on 13 off, which actually sounds ok? 5 weeks is only 10 days off for most Australians. Anyway, we chatted about all manner of subjects, culminating in his amazement that the host of Chinese dating show, If you are the one, who we know as Mr Meng, owns Chongqing style noodle shops in Australia.

Actually we didnt get to chat as much as he might have hoped, because all the children from the entire length of the train decided I would be their entertainment. Nearby children were going to fetch other children from other carriages to come and meet me and talk to me. No matter how much me or the guy I was chatting with explained that my name is David (Dawei), all children referred to me only as WaiGuoRen (foreign person). I could understand some of what they would say, Waiguoren looks silly, waiguoren is very funny, waiguoren is drinking tea and not cola, how come? I was clearly a monkey in a zoo.
They especially liked it when I told them to speak slowly and quietly or I will tell their mothers they have been very naughty!
I guess it will be no surprise that my hair was particularly humorous to everyone, and when I took it out of its ever shrinking pony tail and combed it over my face there were guffaws of laughter from everyone, and then more children came wanting to see captain caveman.

Also if you are wondering how old Chinese children think I might be, somewhere between 80 and 90 years old. Children also tell me I look like a pig, my new English speaking friend asked me cautiously if I knew the monkey magic show and the character pigsy... yes, yes I do, and I already knew that I have a pig nose!

The great loop of China - April 2018 - Here is the outside of the Xian North station, you can get here on the subway.

Here is the outside of the Xian North station, you can get here on the subway.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I love these photos, whichever station I go to, I look forward to taking one.

I love these photos, whichever station I go to, I look forward to taking one.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Here is the temporary bus departure area at Chongqing west station. The bus staff kept asking me if I was taking the bus because I had lost my money.

Here is the temporary bus departure area at Chongqing west station. The bus staff kept asking me if I was taking the bus because I had lost my money. No, I take the bus for the adventure! And an adventure it was, Chongqing is the mountain city and roads go every which way, under over and through buildings and mountains, in the dark, through much more vibrant streets than anywhere else in China. Its the 30 million people wild west!


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Here is my hotel, its a serviced apartment with a full kitchen and washer dryer. I stayed here last time I visited Chongqing, it has an awesome view o

Here is my hotel, its a serviced apartment with a full kitchen and washer dryer. I stayed here last time I visited Chongqing, it has an awesome view of a fully animated building that is more than 100 levels high. There are a number of super talls over 100 floors in Chongqing.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Bonus view of hotel room.

Bonus view of hotel room.


Well, as you can see above, I did make it to my hotel, which as stated above, is excellent. The logistics of getting from Chongqing West Station to here involved taking a local bus. The free express bus was not coming for another hour. There were a whole host of people wanting to help me, recognising that the situation was very un friendly if you are not fluent in Mandarin. The bus set up is temporary as the metro will open soon, and the metro will be full of English and be very tourist friendly. Anyway, the bus staff told me what bus, wu ling si, good luck knowing thats 504 if you dont speak Chinese, and that it would come in er shi wu fen zhong (25 minutes). This was after I explained to them I was happy to go to any subway station, which they understood.

To further help me, a young college student carrying home an embroidered clock he had brought back to his home made for him by his mother was insistent that he would guide me the whole way. I really think if I didnt show him the map on my phone and speak a fair bit of Chinese to him about how I had been to China many times and was very familiar with Chongqing and its subways that he would have taken me all the way to my hotel carrying the big elaborately framed embroidered clock.

There are currently 1 comments - click to add

adriana on 2018-04-26 said:

great photos again. Huge railway stations are impressive. Now I want to see a photo of the tracks/multiple lines/ lot of trains etc.


Day 14 - Friday, 27 April 2018

The mountain city

Heading to Ciqikou in Chongqing on the subway

Beijing and Xian are planned cities, most Chinese cities are planned cities with 4 gates and at one stage a wall. Generally they place the cities on a nice flat bit of land, where a nice wide slow flowing part of a river runs through it. Chongqing is not like this at all.
Instead it is built where 2 huge rivers meet, and used to flood every week on Thursday killing millions of people. The three gorges dam fixed that and gave everyone free power forever, while drowning a few thousand naysayers, and slightly slowing the rotation of the earth!

Anyway, The location of Chongqing with its rivers, cliffs, ravines and mountains makes for a confusing mess of streets, alleyways, subways, steps, under and over passes, monorails, cable cars still used to get people to work every day, transport catapult, ferries that run through buildings on aqueducts, mag lev rickshaws etc.

So instead of checking out all the futuristic stuff, today I went to the old part of town, well the tourist friendly old part anyway, called CiQiKou. When I was last here in 2013, I also went to this street, and wandered down to the river, crossed some industrial waste and then watched people racing dune buggies in crushed asbestos. Unfortunately they have shut that activity down, so today I sampled some of the street snacks, flavoured by the hordes of weekday tourists brushing against them and sifting through them as they passed by.

The great loop of China - April 2018 - After eating crap from the train station yesterday and arriving into Chongqing too late to have a real dinner, I was very relieved to find out my room

After eating crap from the train station yesterday and arriving into Chongqing too late to have a real dinner, I was very relieved to find out my room rate includes the full buffet breakfast. Time to load up on vegetables to prevent scurvy for a few more days. I really did feel healthier after eating this.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Chongqing is all about contrasts. The subway goes most places, and often you have to ascend an alarming number of escalators and or stairs to reach th

Chongqing is all about contrasts. The subway goes most places, and often you have to ascend an alarming number of escalators and or stairs to reach the surface, then when you pop out at the entrance to the tourist shopping street, you are at a rubbish dump. You then walk roughly through the middle of this in the traffic with about 9 million other people to reach the spotless entrance to an ancient street filled with holographic representations of old things.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Well, actually before you get to the real part of Ciqikou you first go through this fake version of it, in case any tourists are tricked into thinking

Well, actually before you get to the real part of Ciqikou you first go through this fake version of it, in case any tourists are tricked into thinking this is all there is to see.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Due to the steep streets, steps, alleyways etc which I already discussed above, nearly everything in Chongqing is still delivered by people with a bam

Due to the steep streets, steps, alleyways etc which I already discussed above, nearly everything in Chongqing is still delivered by people with a bamboo pole over their shoulders. These guys are delivering cooking oil / gutter oil.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Woman posing with sign pointing to public toilet. I remember when I last came here I could not find a public toilet, now there are lots of new ones.

Woman posing with sign pointing to public toilet. I remember when I last came here I could not find a public toilet, now there are lots of new ones.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - And now we enter the start of the street, not too busy yet at this stage.

And now we enter the start of the street, not too busy yet at this stage.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - As I already said, Chongqing is all about the chili / chilli / chile. Seriously the internet debates how to spell this more than any other word. There

As I already said, Chongqing is all about the chili / chilli / chile. Seriously the internet debates how to spell this more than any other word. There is the one or two L's debate and then the i or the e debate, and even within the USA they argue about it, normally they settle on the one best way to spell things.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Getting busier now. My camera does a really good job at photos like this I think.

Getting busier now. My camera does a really good job at photos like this I think.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I bought some of this delicious snack. They mix sesame seeds, oil and Sichuan peppercorns together, stuff them into chillis, slice them up and fry the

I bought some of this delicious snack. They mix sesame seeds, oil and Sichuan peppercorns together, stuff them into chillis, slice them up and fry them. It wasnt too spicy but the locals watching me buy some were laughing at me so I scoffed a handful and told them it was baby food, where is the man food? Laughter erupted!


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Lots of people for a working day! Lots more Chinese flags around these days.

Lots of people for a working day! Lots more Chinese flags around these days.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - This guy puts on a song and dance show as he beats the fresh liquid noodles through the molecular sieve.

This guy puts on a song and dance show as he beats the fresh liquid noodles through the molecular sieve.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - It is a very nice street, everyone thinks so.

It is a very nice street, everyone thinks so.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - As I mentioned above, you used to be able to keep going down to the water, you cannot anymore. I think part of the river was dammed up while a huge br

As I mentioned above, you used to be able to keep going down to the water, you cannot anymore. I think part of the river was dammed up while a huge bridge was being built when I was last here, uncovering an ancient culture, a million dead pigs (that actually happened in Chongqing, also the river turned bright red once and no one knows why) and a dune buggy track.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Here is the view across the river, so murky! Would you like to eat some of the fish those guys catch?

Here is the view across the river, so murky! Would you like to eat some of the fish those guys catch?


The great loop of China - April 2018 - The street back to the station was also nice, tree lined. I was grateful for trees as its damn hot and I had not applied sunscreen.

The street back to the station was also nice, tree lined. I was grateful for trees as its damn hot and I had not applied sunscreen.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Time for my second snack, candied strawberries on a stick. The candying process ensure as much dust / dead insects / phlegm as possible gets glued to

Time for my second snack, candied strawberries on a stick. The candying process ensure as much dust / dead insects / phlegm as possible gets glued to the berries.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - On the way back from ancient street I got off the subway at one of Chongqings many city centres, this one is Shapingba, if memory serves its the least

On the way back from ancient street I got off the subway at one of Chongqings many city centres, this one is Shapingba, if memory serves its the least shiny of the 4 city centres. Last time I was here it was very dirty, now it is spotless.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Memorial to the man carrying the chillis who accidentally fell into a pot full of them and died from chilli overdose.

Memorial to the man carrying the chillis who accidentally fell into a pot full of them and died from chilli overdose.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Have a bit more Shapingba.

Have a bit more Shapingba.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - It hasnt all be made nice just yet, we now descend into the underground.

It hasnt all be made nice just yet, we now descend into the underground.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Which was suitably grungy. Grimey? I hate both those words. It was a world of nail boutiques, beauty spas, clothing shops, and women asleep sitting on

Which was suitably grungy. Grimey? I hate both those words. It was a world of nail boutiques, beauty spas, clothing shops, and women asleep sitting on up turned buckets who havent had a customer this century.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - The food court however had lots of really nice updated options, I skipped those and headed to the bing bar! Gimme a bing damnit.

The food court however had lots of really nice updated options, I skipped those and headed to the bing bar! Gimme a bing damnit.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I opted for vegetarian, ordering in Chinese, and it was delicious. Different to bing boy in Australia, they fold it into a square and chop it in half,

I opted for vegetarian, ordering in Chinese, and it was delicious. Different to bing boy in Australia, they fold it into a square and chop it in half, makes it much easier to eat. Best $1.50 I ever spent.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - And then while buying water from the enormous Carrefour supermarket next to my hotel, I spotted a chilli snickers. How can I not try that? Snickers is

And then while buying water from the enormous Carrefour supermarket next to my hotel, I spotted a chilli snickers. How can I not try that? Snickers is by far the main chocolate variety in China, as it has been since I first came here. The chilli version seems to be a local variation for Chongqing. It needed a lot more chilli.


I have succumbed

The amazing view of Chongqing

Now I am part of the problem. I have a cold. I guess it was inevitable. The last cold I got was Japan last year. On that occasion I was ok again in 2 days time. I hope for a similar recovery this time. I blame the children on the train from yesterday. I use only short sentences. I have actually been surprised at the lack of really sick people. The last really sick people were the French in Beijing. I cant get the flu because I had a flu shot. I am very careful to avoid coughers and sneezers. Clearly not careful enough. Now I do not need to worry for the remainder of this trip. They can cough on me all they want. I have already succumbed.

At least I dont have another long train ride for a couple of days, my train to Wuhan is not until Monday, by then I will either be so sick I cant move, or better. I actually suspected I was getting sick a couple of days ago, my legs were much sorer than I thought they should be after climbing Huashan, and remain sore until now. This is usually a sure sign for me that I am getting sick. I didnt really have any big activities planned for Chongqing, just to experience Chongqing and its madness, that I can probably do while I have a cold, it will mean more visits to cafes and a few rests each day, but I will make sure I still reach my minimum step goal of 30k!

Since getting here I have already washed all my clothes, they survived, I was not electrocuted, and all my socks found their partner. It was doubtful at first, the washing machine was leaking badly through the door! But thankfully it didnt flood the room, and it was able to add more water fast enough to compensate for the amount it was leaking.

Now for some amazing pics which will clearly show why I like to wander around Chongqing.

The great loop of China - April 2018 - This is the view from my hotel window. You can open one small window in the corner but its not the best angle, so this one was taken through glass. I

This is the view from my hotel window. You can open one small window in the corner but its not the best angle, so this one was taken through glass. I have been hanging an epic moon for hours.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - When last I was here, this bridge was under construction, I stood and pondered how amazingly large it was, and how far down it was. Now I can do that

When last I was here, this bridge was under construction, I stood and pondered how amazingly large it was, and how far down it was. Now I can do that again, gawking at the finished bridge. The subway runs along the hidden lower deck. Its a train sandwich.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Amazingly, you can walk across the bridge, and theres no blocking screen! Happy times.

Amazingly, you can walk across the bridge, and theres no blocking screen! Happy times.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Part way along looking back at the main part of the city, the previous photo is not the main part of the city, its just the suburbs.

Part way along looking back at the main part of the city, the previous photo is not the main part of the city, its just the suburbs.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - This is what 30 million people looks like. Except the view in the other direction behind me is also similar.

This is what 30 million people looks like. Except the view in the other direction behind me is also similar.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Another wider view of the central business district. I will have to go back out over the bridge one night when its dark.

Another wider view of the central business district. I will have to go back out over the bridge one night when its dark.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Who photographs the photographers? I photograph the photographers.

Who photographs the photographers? I photograph the photographers.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - This is looking back down a pedestrian street towards my hotel. The big building on the left is fully animated at night, and just outside my hotel win

This is looking back down a pedestrian street towards my hotel. The big building on the left is fully animated at night, and just outside my hotel window.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Chongqing has lots and lots of street food. Too much, the places were not busy enough for a friday night.

Chongqing has lots and lots of street food. Too much, the places were not busy enough for a friday night.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - This is a new one to me, a fresh flower vending machine. It is quite common to see florists still open at midnight across China for no known good reas

This is a new one to me, a fresh flower vending machine. It is quite common to see florists still open at midnight across China for no known good reason. I guess the owner of this florist was tired of that concept and invented a new one.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - If you want something a bit different, theres a salad bar surrounded by boiling cauldrons of chilli in the street.

If you want something a bit different, theres a salad bar surrounded by boiling cauldrons of chilli in the street.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - When you buy things on sticks, you first roll them in chilli powder, or paint more on with a provided house paint brush, then shove them in a bucket.

When you buy things on sticks, you first roll them in chilli powder, or paint more on with a provided house paint brush, then shove them in a bucket. Generally they are sprayed with oil to ensure enough chilli powder sticks on.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - For my dinner, I had dumplings in extra spicy oil/soup. Very invigorating.

For my dinner, I had dumplings in extra spicy oil/soup. Very invigorating.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - However because my dinner was unhealthy, I had to balance that out with some really really excellent fruit salad, which cost more than my dinner. This

However because my dinner was unhealthy, I had to balance that out with some really really excellent fruit salad, which cost more than my dinner. This being China, tomato is fruit salad.


There are currently 2 comments - click to add

jenny on 2018-04-27 said:

So many tall buildings. the city seems to be built on terraces. I recognise some of these areas from last time you were there.


mother on 2018-04-27 said:

So many interesting old areas to explore - so many people!


Day 15 - Saturday, 28 April 2018

Massive Renewal

The amazing architecture of Chongqing

No, not a massive renewal in my health, a massive renewal in the entire tip of the main part of Chongqing where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet.
My health is still poor, but not declining, situation stable, still alive.

Last time I was in Chongqing, the point was a barren place for poor people to sell fruit and to line up for cruise ships departing to the three gorges dam sightseeing area. Currently the cruise ships and poor people are still there, but rising from the rubbish is a new enormous development of giant apartment buildings and associated commerce / parks that will eventually form 2 concentric semi circles linked by sky decks similar to Singapores Marina bay sands only much higher.
I did what I could to photograph this but you cannot really get far enough away to take a proper photo, plus many of the towers are not yet started or half built.

Because of this construction, numerous roads are gone, they are still marked on maps, but they just do not exist anymore. This part of the city was already impossible to navigate and today I ended up doubling back many times, followed at the end by a huge retreat all the way back around the water. You literally do follow roads through building to get places, and a big tunnel that empties out into the river.

Despite my cold, I somehow managed to walk 20k steps before lunch time exploring just a small part of this enormous city.

The great loop of China - April 2018 - Here we have a scene repeated at thousands of places across the city, typical Chongqing breakfast. You go to a noodle cart, they add various pastes an

Here we have a scene repeated at thousands of places across the city, typical Chongqing breakfast. You go to a noodle cart, they add various pastes and spices to a bowl, pour in boiling water from a kettle, stir it a bit, boil some fresh noodles, throw that in, then add spoonfuls of things on top such as chopped nuts, more chilli, sliced shallots, dried onions, dried mushrooms, pickled cabbage etc.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I first tried to approach the new development from this side, I could not get any closer, first retreat of the morning.

I first tried to approach the new development from this side, I could not get any closer, first retreat of the morning.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - You have to climb lots of steep staircases in Chongqing. The bamboo pole guys send packages of anything you can imagine down the stairs by stuffing th

You have to climb lots of steep staircases in Chongqing. The bamboo pole guys send packages of anything you can imagine down the stairs by stuffing them in canvas bags and flinging it down the rollers. I managed to capture a bag on its way down, the guys running the show waited for me to be ready before they let it go, I gave them the thumbs up after taking the photo, they seemed happy.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - As we will now see, this whole part of the city is undergoing a dramatic renewal, this part is new, oh and its 19 levels of mall. Dont be suprised if

As we will now see, this whole part of the city is undergoing a dramatic renewal, this part is new, oh and its 19 levels of mall. Dont be suprised if you walk in on level 5 and out on level -3 and yet are somehow still at street level. Very confusing, everything is built on the side of a cliff.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Immediately over the road from the new mall is this. With the construction going on, it seems to be the main traffic thoroughfare at the moment.

Immediately over the road from the new mall is this. With the construction going on, it seems to be the main traffic thoroughfare at the moment.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Inside is a very claustrophobic wholesale clothes market. People still go here to buy things though, no change rooms, no matter, just get undressed in

Inside is a very claustrophobic wholesale clothes market. People still go here to buy things though, no change rooms, no matter, just get undressed in full view of everyone.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I thought I was at street level, I entered from a street, I had gone down a few flights of stairs, but I am about 8 levels up. This market continues t

I thought I was at street level, I entered from a street, I had gone down a few flights of stairs, but I am about 8 levels up. This market continues through many adjoining buildings without you realising.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I made it back down to a street level. Shirtless men dragging stuff around the place are everywhere here.

I made it back down to a street level. Shirtless men dragging stuff around the place are everywhere here.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Eventually I found the river again and was able to get my bearings, well it was a river, not the same river.

Eventually I found the river again and was able to get my bearings, well it was a river, not the same river.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Heres a bit more of that development, shot from river level. There will be another deck on the roof with a big park once all the towers are built, and

Heres a bit more of that development, shot from river level. There will be another deck on the roof with a big park once all the towers are built, and going a full 180 degrees.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - To get out to the cruise ships bobbing up and down in the Yangtze, you must walk out over the floating jetty. I tried to but you need a ticket to pass

To get out to the cruise ships bobbing up and down in the Yangtze, you must walk out over the floating jetty. I tried to but you need a ticket to pass the security on each one. That red bridge in the background, thats a different huge bridge to the one I was on last night, this is a different river.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - A bit more of a different part of the city. Grey clouds this morning, they started to clear up by lunch time and it got hot again. That is yet another

A bit more of a different part of the city. Grey clouds this morning, they started to clear up by lunch time and it got hot again. That is yet another different huge bridge.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I walked all the way around the point at water level hoping to find a way back to the area where my hotel is. No, not possible. That red bridge IS THE

I walked all the way around the point at water level hoping to find a way back to the area where my hotel is. No, not possible. That red bridge IS THE SAME red bridge as yesterday. So many red bridges. Alas I must now retrace my steps.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Which meant I could find another different red bridge. No, its the same one from earlier today, but not the same one as yesterday, but the same one as

Which meant I could find another different red bridge. No, its the same one from earlier today, but not the same one as yesterday, but the same one as a bit later today just before this photo. Very simple layout. Not confusing. This one also has a subway running through it on the lower deck.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Before all the bridges, there used to be lots of cable cars crossing the rivers here. Now I think this is the only one left. People still like it beca

Before all the bridges, there used to be lots of cable cars crossing the rivers here. Now I think this is the only one left. People still like it because it goes into the middle of the city and much higher up the river banks than walking over the bridges will get you. I have seen pictures of the old terrifying ones that look more like rusty mine carts, apparently they fell quite often!


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Across the river are two by twin towers, the gold and the black. I am not sure who was first, I remember seeing the gold ones last time I was here fro

Across the river are two by twin towers, the gold and the black. I am not sure who was first, I remember seeing the gold ones last time I was here from a bus window, but not the black ones. The gold is a little less gold than I remember, might be the grey sky today, or the gold might be wearing off already.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Vertigo inducing shot of the cable car passing some low rent apartments.

Vertigo inducing shot of the cable car passing some low rent apartments.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I didnt quite have to retrace my steps the whole way, I found a tunnel to go through. It has a footpath despite me standing in the middle of the road

I didnt quite have to retrace my steps the whole way, I found a tunnel to go through. It has a footpath despite me standing in the middle of the road to take this photo. No cars were really using it because its now a dead end into the construction zone.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - The other end of the tunnel let out into the tourist zone built on the cliff face as seen yesterday. These are actually dug back into the cliffs, they

The other end of the tunnel let out into the tourist zone built on the cliff face as seen yesterday. These are actually dug back into the cliffs, they are called the Hongya caves. It is so popular they have to limit the number of people on site at any one time, although it was still morning so not too busy yet.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - It is an 11 level structure attached to a cave, made of actual lacquered wood, and going quite a distance back under the cliff. Seems dangerous!

It is an 11 level structure attached to a cave, made of actual lacquered wood, and going quite a distance back under the cliff. Seems dangerous!


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Cave garden.

Cave garden.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Another view of the start of the interesting tourist amusement park and restaurant zone.

Another view of the start of the interesting tourist amusement park and restaurant zone.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Some parts inside were quite deserted, this floor sells plastic junk.

Some parts inside were quite deserted, this floor sells plastic junk.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - There are lots of ways to ascend, but it can be a maddening process of hitting a dead end, descending 3 levels, finding another staircase, repeat. If

There are lots of ways to ascend, but it can be a maddening process of hitting a dead end, descending 3 levels, finding another staircase, repeat. If it did catch on fire, I would be pushing women and children to be the first to bound out, the whole things a trap!


I am very good at dancing

Exploring Guanyinqiao in Chongqing

I am still sick but I am very very good at dancing, this everyone knows.
Despite my cold, I went for quite a long walk in the new part of Chongqing, which isnt quite as hilly as where I am staying. It is on the far side of one of the many rivers and through a small mountain on a plateau of sorts, and is where most of the government buildings are located.

My first stop was the newest mall in all of Chongqing, it is the Taiwanese / Japanese joint venture which is only Taiwanese in China Shin Kong (-Mitsukoshi). Obviously because of the Nanjing massacre the Mitsukoshi part has been left off in China. Anyway, this place is actually advertised in Chongqing as 'experience life in Taiwan', which I think is kind of strange. It is a very nice place, a more modern style of partially outdoors, less tiles, more polished concrete and wood, kind of like the way they are redoing all the Westfields in Australia now.

From there, in a dazed stupor, I walked south to the equal biggest shopping area of Guanyin bridge. I went here last time I visited and remembered the mass dancing extravaganza. Dont worry, all these years later, its still the same. I joined in from the viewing lookout above everyone and received the adoration of thousands, I am now known as 'silly dancing sneezing pigsy white man', you can see me on Youku (Chinese youtube).

The great loop of China - April 2018 - Tonight I had to line up to get into the subway. Saturday night is the busiest time for public transport in China, absolutely everyone goes out and do

Tonight I had to line up to get into the subway. Saturday night is the busiest time for public transport in China, absolutely everyone goes out and does things in the street. The concept of staying home and watching tv, or inviting friends over is non existent. It was quite the push to get on. On my way back later in the evening, I actually decided the wait was too long to get to my platform of choice, so I took a train one direction the other way and came back on a different line which was less busy.
While waiting for that train, orderly lines were formed either side of the door, and one boy with headphones on and a backpack walked straight up the middle of the two lines to the front centre of the doors. I grabbed the handle of his backpack and firmly dragged him to the back of the line. He looked petrified, and actually ran off. No face.... no face.... Locals were smiling at me.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - To give context of where I am, its the basement level to the Shin Kong complex which is actually several different buildings and outdoor streets.

To give context of where I am, its the basement level to the Shin Kong complex which is actually several different buildings and outdoor streets.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Although quite a way from the centre of Chongqing, its still skyscrapers everywhere, new shiny ones.

Although quite a way from the centre of Chongqing, its still skyscrapers everywhere, new shiny ones.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - The basement was a fantastic food court, and not too busy! There is no hope getting into a real restaurant as a solo diner on a Saturday night. Real r

The basement was a fantastic food court, and not too busy! There is no hope getting into a real restaurant as a solo diner on a Saturday night. Real restaurants are all food designed to be shared by big groups anyway.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - The variety in non Chinese cuisines has not really reached Chongqing yet, but they do have a Sukiya in here, and a pepper lunch.

The variety in non Chinese cuisines has not really reached Chongqing yet, but they do have a Sukiya in here, and a pepper lunch.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I probably should have had either Sukiya or Pepper lunch, because although my Taiwanese beef noodle was delicious, it was too much food and I felt a b

I probably should have had either Sukiya or Pepper lunch, because although my Taiwanese beef noodle was delicious, it was too much food and I felt a bit ill from overeating. Fantastic quality beef, HERE IS THE BEEF.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - This mall has a number of non shopping activities, here is the basketball court. There were also ping pong tables, just as we have in Australia now in

This mall has a number of non shopping activities, here is the basketball court. There were also ping pong tables, just as we have in Australia now in many shops frequented by Chinese people.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Most people would be aware that Asian countries love of giant robot fighting movies is the reason transformers keeps getting made. Chongqing delivers

Most people would be aware that Asian countries love of giant robot fighting movies is the reason transformers keeps getting made. Chongqing delivers with a theme park style ride where you go through a fight between Optimus Prime and the thing that turns into a gun. There are sparks and lasers and Shia Lebouf, the real Shia Lebouf, this is the only gig he can get these days.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Time to leave Chinese Taiwan.

Time to leave Chinese Taiwan.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - This part of Chongqing looks very different to where I am staying. It looks like a western city.

This part of Chongqing looks very different to where I am staying. It looks like a western city.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - After about a 45 minute lazy stroll, I re-arrived in a land of neon.

After about a 45 minute lazy stroll, I re-arrived in a land of neon.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - I remembered paradise walk from last time. It used to be a street, now its a mall, the top 2 floors are hundreds of huge restaurants. I walked through

I remembered paradise walk from last time. It used to be a street, now its a mall, the top 2 floors are hundreds of huge restaurants. I walked through here because it was air conditioned, it is hot here this evening. All the while I could hear the distorted loud speakers from the restaurant floors calling out the number of the group whos table is ready. You cannot make restaurant reservations in China, and thats the way it should be everywhere.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Quite a nice area, but I took a few redundant photos.

Quite a nice area, but I took a few redundant photos.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Here is another.

Here is another.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - It took me a while, but then I found the mass dancing. It is a site to behold. I made a video which I will upload to youtube at some point.

It took me a while, but then I found the mass dancing. It is a site to behold. I made a video which I will upload to youtube at some point.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - Next to the dancing is a sea of flowers, sneezing fit intensifies.

Next to the dancing is a sea of flowers, sneezing fit intensifies.


The great loop of China - April 2018 - There are lots of splinter dancing groups. If I am not mistaken, Chongqing is the city where there was a suspected murder of a dance group member who

There are lots of splinter dancing groups. If I am not mistaken, Chongqing is the city where there was a suspected murder of a dance group member who tried to start a new group. Grandma dancing is serious business!


The great loop of China - April 2018 - One more, the police presence was very high in case another professional hit takes place.

One more, the police presence was very high in case another professional hit takes place.


There are currently 4 comments - click to add

elz on 2018-07-18 said:

Do you really not know who Megatron is ?

Maybe you could update your post or add in the comment the youtube dance video if you ever made it.


bobule on 2018-04-30 said:

beef looks excellent. this trip has been great!


Jenny on 2018-04-28 said:

Glad you are teaching the locals lining up etiquette.


mother on 2018-04-28 said:

Is this the most fascinating city ever! I wonder how earthquake proof it all is. Don't think I would like to be in any of the new or old buildings at the time.


Now there is a page 6, where I start heading back east, but there are still 3 more cities to visit.

Contents

Day 0 - Saturday, 16 March 2019
  Retrospective
Day 1 - Saturday, 14 April 2018
  The long winded getaway
  Projectile vomit boy
Day 2 - Sunday, 15 April 2018
  Pollen count
  Walking too far eating too much
Day 3 - Monday, 16 April 2018
  A really long journey to a really big wall
  The Mongolian spicy cold noodle denial
Day 4 - Tuesday, 17 April 2018
  The west lake of the northern capital
  Gentrification
Day 5 - Wednesday, 18 April 2018
  The bee filled mountain of many amenities
  An uncomplicated exchange
Day 6 - Thursday, 19 April 2018
  The bus debacle illegal taxi comedy show
  Fun running race but I cant join in
Day 7 - Friday, 20 April 2018
  From the old to the new old
  The most China of places I have ever been
Day 8 - Saturday, 21 April 2018
  Everybody was kung fu fighting the rain
  The new old is new again
Day 9 - Sunday, 22 April 2018
  Windwalker
  Named in my honor
Day 10 - Monday, 23 April 2018
  How to make a short train ride really long
  The grandest scale
Day 11 - Tuesday, 24 April 2018
  Everybody can get fogged
  Shining beacons of ancient
Day 12 - Wednesday, 24 April 2018
  Pottery barn
  The other great wall
Day 13 - Thursday, 26 April 2018
  Around the bottom of the wall
  The first of the three long journeys
Day 14 - Friday, 27 April 2018
  The mountain city
  I have succumbed
Day 15 - Saturday, 28 April 2018
  Massive Renewal
  I am very good at dancing
Day 16 - Sunday, 29 April 2018
  Sick polluted and awesome
  The crush for the view
Day 17 - Monday, 30 April 2018
  Tales from a moving train
  Monday night madness
Day 18 - Tuesday, 1 May 2018
  Not the west lake
  Wanda world
Day 19 - Wednesday, 2 May 2018
  Revolutionary tower poetry
  The not so shiny and the not so new
Day 20 - Thursday, 3 May 2018
  The long view of the amazing blue
  And now for the view
Day 21 - Friday, 4 May 2018
  Lap completed
  The old hole
Day 22 - Saturday, 5 May 2018
  Complete waste of a day
  Resurrection of the day
Day 23 - Sunday, 6 May 2018
  Last day of boring train photos
  Fully bunded area
Day 24 - Monday, 7 May 2018
  The subway to the ancient water town
  The main drag
Day 25 - Tuesday, 8 May 2018
  Botanists delight
  The old side from the new side became more of the new side
Day 26 - Wednesday, 9 May 2018
  Every single park and garden
  I found another park
Day 27 - Thursday, 10 May 2018
  The maglev update
  The end