May 26, 2018
Today was really an event-filled day!
We started off the day early, packing up our things and getting ready to leave our hotel by 8:45, to head to Landlord Liu's Manor.
The manor itself has been turned into a museum and has been used for a variety of purposes throughout the years. During the age of Mao, it was used to showcase the gross exploitation and cruelty of the landlord on its tenants. The landlord was Liu Wencai and he was used as a symbol for all landlords.
It was so interesting to see all the various luxuries showcased in the manor. Some of which included porcelain from China, England, Japan, jade and ivory carvings, silver, rosewood furniture with precious gems encased in it. It was almost hard to imagine how much wealth a person must have to have all these precious items.
It is also a really big property, boasting 506 rooms total, with Liu's own home having 106 of them. Between the rooms, there were many courtyards and gardens. Liu's own bedroom had an enormous bed with gold decor. He also had an opium storage room and two smoking rooms, one that is cooler for the summer time and one that is warmer for the winter time.
We also toured the famous statues, depicting the process of the landlord collecting rent and the ultimate unhappiness of the peasants working under him. It was very carefully designed to make the have the greatest effect on its audience and even included many theatrics such as the lighting.
Touring the whole place took around 2 hours and that was with our tour guide helping us move through the complex fairly quickly. The area around it truly became a tourist attraction, with food stalls boasting "landlord noodles".
Afterwards, we took the bus to Dujiangyan Irrigation. It's a UNESCO certified world heritage site showcasing a more than 2000-year-old irrigation system. It was so amazing to see that this irrigation system hasn't been neglected and still plays a crucial role in bringing water to the Chengdu Plain today.
The atmosphere was almost like visiting Niagara Falls. With the rainy weather, almost everyone was wearing a poncho and posing in front of the water, and the mountains in the distance, to take a picture. Surrounding it was a lot of beautiful architecture in the typical Chinese style. We were free to explore the area ourselves and it was nice taking a more relaxing pace and just enjoying the view.
The afternoon brought us a hike! We boarded the bus again to go to the main gate to hike Qingchengshan, the birthplace of Taoism. Many of us braved the hike up and some of us took a cable car. Either way, the route up was serene and scenic, a breath of fresh air (literally) compared to the hustle and bustle of the city.
Our hotel was atop the mountain and had we not been told that it was a hotel, I don't think we would've have noticed. It is so unlike any other hotel that we have seen before. The surroundings are so quiet and relaxing (much needed for those of us who hiked up!)
Lastly, we had a group dinner and spoke with a Taoist Abbott about Taoism. He truly seemed to embody the Taoist spirit, speaking his mind freely but also never imposing his thoughts on us.
It really was a long day, but very rewarding and fulfilling!
- Winnie N.
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