Canada/China Trip - Day 7

• up before 6 AM. breakfast 6:30-7:30. 8 AM drive.

• Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge - built 1960-1968. took 8 years, 3 billion yuen. 1st 100% Chinese heavy bridge building project, design, architecture, lumber, construction. 3 roads, cars above, train below.

• museum - bridge miniature model (at least 12 ft long).

 

• Mao statue + propoganda

 

 

• shopping: 4 cute glass bead bracelets, 5 yuen each, from street vendor lady at entrance.
• Inner Crystal Painting Gallery - unique art form. artist uses fine brushes to paint the inside of hollowed-out glass/crystal. crazy difficult, kinda backwards, small inner space & tiny hole for brush to move. incredibly skillful & beautiful work. got to watch apprentices work.
• took photos w/ master Chang Fong after purchasing a piece.

 

• shopping: double tea pot w/ 12 painted horses.

 

 

• Jade Factory - Grade A jade.

 

• shopping: 3 pendants (1 Buddha, 2 Pixiu) + 1 bracelet.
• lunch til 1:30.

• 2.5-hour drive to Wuxi.

• Mt. Lingshan Scenic Area in Taihu Lake National Tourist Resort - includes 1 of the biggest Buddhas in the world.
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Grand Buddha at Ling Shan - bronze, 88 m high, 700+ tons, 216 steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Ancient Ginkgo Tree - over 1400 years old! guardian spirit.

 

 

 

 

• 9 Dragons Bathing Baby Buddha - moving fountain + water works display w/ music ("Birth of Buddha").
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Ling Shan Brahma Palace - World Buddhist Association meeting center. gorgeous, like Chinese version of St. Peters Basilica or Sistine Chapel. classic architecture + Chinese mythology + modern LED lights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• tour til 6 PM.
• dinner at hotel restaurant. 6:30-7:30.
• Swiss Belhotel - check-in very early (7:45). new hotel, opened 1 month ago. free wifi!

• oh, no! R + cousin Geo in fender-bender in Vancouver. minor injuries, just whiplash, thank goodness!