Happy Birthday Justin!

Today is Justin's 34th birthday and it has been a fun one! We started this morning at an amusement park although we didn't go on any rides. Emma and I had an enjoyable ride in one of those rickshaw-like carriage carried by two men with us in the middle (think Ark of the Covenant). Photo included. They had music playing in the carriage and the men had a very distinctive walk which made the carriage bounce. Apparently, they are used in traditional weddings when, after the wedding, the bride is carried to the door where her new husband is waiting.

We always have many visitors when we are walking through public places. Today, the people were particularly curious and very appreciative that we were taking good care of the children. They just kept saying that the children are so lucky that they are going to live such nice lives. We tried to express that we feel like we are the ones who are blessed to have such lovely children. Many people were exercising in this park as well. It was fun to watch them dancing and doing Tai Chi. Everyone looks so graceful and healthy.

After the park, we went to a Government run souvenir shop where we were able to get some things that were unique to Guizhou. We were able to buy two traditional outfits for Emma along with some other little dolls, etc. There were many beautiful things that we had to pass up on but it was fun to shop.

For lunch we went to a restaurant run by a Chinese Minority, the Dong Minority group. The majority of the people are Han Chinese, but Guizhou has 38 different minority groups plus the Han people living in the province. Many of the minority groups live in the countryside in very traditional villages. Duyun, where Emma is from (about 3 hours from Guiyang), has mostly Bouyei and Miao people. We believe Emma is from the Miao minority group. We will never know for sure. The staff did a special musical presentation for Justin for his birthday treat. They were all dressed in their local tradititional dress. I missed it as I was out with our guide ordering a cake for Justin's birthday party. Bad timing!

Now we are back at the hotel for the evening. We are having a little party for Justin's birthday in a bit with other friends from our travel group. The cake says "Happy Birthday Justin" and has 2 mice and cheese as it is the Year of the Rat. Today is also the last day of the spring festival and fireworks have started outside our window. They will likely go well into the night. Thankfully, Emma sleeps through anything, it seems!

Tomorrow we head for a day-long adventure to Huangguoshu Falls and to a Han village which apparently has a well-known opera (the kind where the men have painted faces and lots of different masks).

We have one day left in Guiyang and then we head to Guangzhou. We have had a very nice time in the province, but look forward to a change of scenery and warmer weather.

If you'd like more info on this province, you could go to
http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/chinatours/guiyang.htm







Guizhou province is situated in southwest China and covers 176,000 sq. km. It has a population of about 35 million, of which 65% is Han and the rest a mixture of minorities such as Miao, Bouyei, Dong, Yi, Shui, Hui, Gelao, Zhuang, Yao, Bai, Tujia, etc. Mountains and plateaus make up some 65% of Guizhou's topography. The terrain is rugged, with karst formations, underground rivers, jagged peaks, dramatic valleys, and terraced rice fields. Guizhou, with its rich historic heritage, has spectacular waterfalls, national forests, and awesome scenery. The major cities include capital city Guiyang, Zunyi, Anshun, Duyun, Kali, and Liupenshui.
Guizhou's No.1 attraction is Huangguoshu (Yellow Fruit Tree) Falls. The falls is the largest in China, measuring 74 meters tall and 81 meters wide. In the middle part of the falls, a cave arches into the cliff side and is fancifully curtained by a sheet of water. The thunder of the falls can be heard for some distance and the falls are at their most spectacular about five days after heavy rain between May and October. In addition, there are other falls in the area such as the Luositan Waterfall and the Yinlianzhui Waterfall.
Guizhou offers a diverse environment rich in natural resources and recreational opportunities. Within the "Park Province" are a variety of special places for you to explore, from Guiyang's Lake Qianling to the karst caves of Zhijin and the Miao villages and festivals in the southeast part of the province. The unique karst attractions include the Zhijin Daji Cave, the Rhino Cave in Zhenning, the Dragon's Palace in Anshun, and the Flying Dragon Cave in Xingyi.
Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, has an area of 2,406 square km., and a population of 1.56 million. Lying in the central part of the Miaoling mountain range, most of Guiyang is hilly except the central area. It has a subtropical monsoon climate with an annual average temperature of 15.3'C, and 271 frost-free days. Annual rainfall averages 1,197 millimeters.
Guiyang is one of China's major producers of nonferrous metals and tobacco. Its major industries also include machinery, steel making, food processing, and chemicals. The chief farm products are rice, wheat, rape, tea, and Guiyang is a hub of railways in the southwest of China. The Chuanqian, Xiangqian, Guikun, and Qiangui railway lines converge here. Road and air transportation facilities are also good. Flights connect to more than twenty other major cities throughout China.
Guiyang has many beautiful mountains and rivers. The region's premier tourist attractions are Qianlingshan mountain, Lake Qianling, the Huaxi scenic area, the Huangguoshu falls, Lake Hongfeng, and the Dragon Palace. The special locally-made produces include Guiyang Daqu liquor, cigarettes, and Zhumaojiao liquor.

http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/chinatours/guiyang.htm