Pingyao

30/8/11

The free museum in Taiyuan was closed GDI. I got myself food had a wander around the city then headed to the train station. It was busy, unbelievably busy. I got a standing ticket for 8 kuai and headed to Pingyao.

In many ways Pingyao is like Brugge. They are both world heritage sites, they were both not that special hundreds of years ago but have become special because unlike their neighbouring more spectacular cities they have been almost completely preserved. Pingyao is a moated city about the same size as the moat that surrounds Brugge and also has very similar levels of traffic. It seems less green than Brugge but is equally if not more touristy. The shops here are really boring and the local speciality resembles corn beef. The street vendors sell a smaller range of food and restaurants that have a bit of variety are targeting tourists and are generally overpriced. I read that the Pingyao beef became famous all over China after an empress talked so highly of it. I can't imagine the Queen of England would visit a wee village and sample the local cuisine and then turn round and say 'oh by the way, your food tastes utter s**te. I don't care what some Ming Empress said, Corned beef is corned beef. I haven't seen the sort of Chinese markets selling various fruit, veg and strange meats. I've seen lots of fake antique shops and women selling those wooden frogs that make a frog sound if you scrape their back. The sellers assume you've never seen one before. They also think I'll be in awe of their laser pens and want to buy 15 to show all my friends and family. It might be better than what I've got from first impressions. On the plus side I'm looking hot in my red t-shirt and my hostel is really nice. The internet is fast, there is a really good pool table, free drinking water and a great selection of Michael Jackson DVD's.

2/9/11

I had a great last night in Pingyao with a Glaswegian named Michael and a Chinese girl that joined us later for a game of pool and a beer or two. I have really toned down my Scottish accent as of late but it all came back as soon as I met a fellow Scot. Unfortunately the Chinese girl picked up on some of the things we were saying. She is currently studying architecture in Shanghai. I hope she doesn't graduate then get a job with an international architecture firm then interrupt a meeting to declare that she's 'away for a slash' when nature calls. Hearing a Chinese person using Scottish terminology got me in unstoppable laughing mode. I didn't get into the countryside but wouldn't have found much activity anyway. The city isn't as bad as I first thought. The buildings are all really nice (although repetitive) and I managed to find decent cuisine for a good price, some old men here still wear Mao suits. I've lived really cheap here and have really wished I could play rush poker to get back to what I had when I arrived in China.

My chinese is coming on fine according to other foreigners but I still struggle to listen to what the Chinese are saying. My vocabulary has improved over the past few days and I am getting better at picking out words in sentences.

Unfortunately the trains to Luoyang are all booked. I'll have to go back to Taiyuan later today then head to Luoyang from there. I'm really looking forward to getting to the south and find voluntary work in rice paddies.