Millenium Park

We went to Millennium Park while in Kaifeng, which is similar to Disney World in Florida. Everything was built to resemble the Song dynasty, and the famous rainbow bridge in located here. Given the time of day we were there, most of the shops and smaller performances were finished for the day, but we were able to go on the bridges and explore the gardens. We had dinner at the park, equivalent to the grandeur of the Henan University banquet, except with more soup and no baijiu. There was wonderful watermelon and noodle soup at the end of the meal to signal its completion. I did not care for the turtle soup that was presented to us throughout the meal. Following dinner, there was an elaborate production of a story reenacting old China. The show took place over a lake, stage, hills, and buildings with lots of colorful lights, several hundred performers, and an appearance of a female warrior on her horse. It was on a superior scale to anything at Disney World and no Mickey Mouse was there either. With this, it was evident how the Chinese pay attention to detail in everything they do. Everything was so beautifully portrayed and vividly decorated that it was hard to not be impressed by what I saw.

Yellow River

In the middle of the day, we went to the Yellow River, Huang He, and crossed to both sides by little speed boats. The river was shallow at this time of the season with more of a brown hue color than yellow. Apparently for Chinese people, going to the river is a religious and cherished experiences for them. The river was fairly wide and is one of the five longest rivers in the world, I believe. Fisherman and boatmen live along the river with their tents in a simplistic manner. The boat ride was nice because it allowed me to see the countryside on a sunny day, let the wind blow through my hair, and breathe fresh air. Farm land lined the road leading to the river and the sky seemed to large and open when compared to metropolitan cities.

Hutong Life

We visited a hutong, a Chinese neighborhood, which included a Jewish section. One of the streets in the hutong was called Read the Torah Lane due to a women who ventured into China and taught Judaism. About one thousand years ago, a Kaifeng emperor said he would protect and support a Jewish population in his city. This neighborhood was economically poor with one-room houses serving as a kitchen, bedroom, and entertaining room; and there was a communal shower facility. All the residents lived humble, meager lives, quite different from anything seen in the United States. Conversely, even though they were not rich, the people seemed content. The people in the streets seemed surprised, but happy to see us westerners. Seeing this type of living environment allowed me to question living conditions and how to live life. The complaints Americans have about various issues seem silly, insignificant, and ridiculous in comparison to the lives of these Chinese people. Even though it was a sad lifestyle, it was a good representation of old China. These little pockets of people and dirt roads are tucked away before main commercial streets and are scattered with tiny restaurants and food stations.

Evening in Kaifeng

Following the banquet, most of us attended a pub called Sun Dry, I believe, which was the first bar in the city. The entire place was filled with Henan University students, most of them were female English majors. There were a few male students among them who were also English majors, but this is not a common major for boys when compared with math, science, and engineering. They were interested in talking about American hobbies, school, and western traditions. It was very nice to interact with other students to learn their perspectives on life and how our two cultures differ. Students here do not go out in the evenings as much as Americans students do because the school gates close around eleven each evening. Yet, Chinese like to Karaoke and sing songs by Lady Gaga.

Banquet in Kaifeng

While in Kaifeng we went to a banquet with many other workers from Henan University, our host, including the vice president of a department who studied to become a molecular biologist. Dr. Weinstein and Kim Havercamp were the guests of honor. Tonight was when I learned how much the Chinese love to drink their liquor, particularly baijiu. Others said it burned their throat when they drank it, and most of them used green tea as way to get rid of the taste. For food, there were cold dishes served along with hot ones and a plate of full mini crabs; so many dishes were presented that a lot of the food went to waster. By the end, everyone was merry and well fed.

Iron Pagoda in Kaifeng

At another site, the Youguo Temple, the Iron Pagoda had similar decorations around it. there is a misconception behind the tower because even though it is called an Iron Pagoda, it is not actually made from iron; it only resembles the appearance of iron. It was originally built of wood during the Song dynasty, but the current structure made of brick was reconstructed in 1044 after a fire. Most of us climbed the pagoda, thirteen stories tall, while ascending a very narrow and poorly lit staircase. However, I could get great aerial pictures of the surrounding grasslands and buildings. There were openings, or cut-outs, along the way where I could look out to see my progress while climbing the tower and also enter into in case another person was moving the in opposite direction as me.

Buddhist temple in Kaifeng

We went to a Buddhist temple that had a statue of a lady with 1043 arms and eyes because she was the third daughter of a family who gave her hand and eye to save her father's life. The temple had hundreds of little gold statues of gods who slightly resembled Buddha, but each had a different specialty/ power and a different pose to match this. I never knew how involved the religion is because I was under the impression that there was only the one main Buddha figure. Flowers, gazebos, and incenses surrounded each structure to provide a peaceful environment.