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Published: January 22nd 2011
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The "Great" Golden Dragon Wall.
It was getting really hot toward the top, even though it was freezing outside! Today, we USAC students took a bus trip to the ancient town of Luodai, which is about an hour away from Chengdu. And on the way, I (for the first time) got to see some of China's rural areas! I'm definately planning on visiting some remote villages when I go to Guilin (southern China) during the New Year break. Most of the houses were very old, and surrounded by beautiful wet red dirt, vegetables and rice paddies.
Luodai was much like another Jilin street. It was very tourist-y. Almost disappointing. It was fun, but I was expecting it to be less westernized. According to research I conducted the previous night we went, "The Luodai Ancient Town Chengdu is the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world."
Really? Because last time I checked, it looked like the process of globalization is just making it another tourist trap.
I didn't come here to China to be constantly babied and fed with Western comforts. I came here to experience difference.
I did wonder into a part of Luodai town, where the people actually lived. And
that looked interesting. It looked almost as
The "Great" Golden Dragon Wall.
It was almost scary going down, with no rails! if it was (not completely, but close enough) untouched by Westernization. Unfortunately, Madi and I didn't have time to explore the area.
Well...there's always Guilin!
After that, we took another bus trip to the "Great Wall" of Southwest China, called "The Golden Dragon Wall." The wall was probably made in the twentieth century; regardless, it was really cool! This makes up for me not being able to go to the Great Wall in Beijing.
Many of the steps were
very steep. It may not look like it in the pictures, but some of the steps were
almost verticle. And there were no rails! I'm suprised I made it to the top, because I haven't worked out in three weeks, and the journey was about an hour and a half of climbing stairs!
The top of the mountain was a Buddha enshrined in a very beautiful temple. I didn't realize, until I got to the top, that many people were climbing the wall on a pilgrimage.
We also met some really nice locals there! Many young people wanted to talk to Madi and I, and were thrilled when we replied in Chinese. A group of girls
The "Great" Golden Dragon Wall.
I was determined to make it to the top! on the climb, as well as in Luodai, begged to take pictures with us!
And the higher we went, the more beautiful our surroundings were. We could have probably seen lush hills and small mountains for miles, if it was a clear day. But it was the grey fog and cool mist that surrounded the mountains that made it so enticing.
Well...the experience at both places were great. It was nice to take a trip out of Chengdu for a change. I just wish places weren't so...tourist-y and set on appeasing Western tastes. Even on the wall, locals were trying to sell me "cool" souveniers.
I just want to find somewhere where there's no Western influences. Is it
that hard to find??? Really...what is this world coming to?
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travelchina0086
non-member comment
luodai
Even most of chinese do not Luodai ,but it's really a nice place when you go there in srping .most of such places will dispear ...like Hutong in Beijing .it's shame for us .