Text and images (c) Robert Barry Francos / FFotos by Francos, 2014
Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them
Located on the side of a mountain is a series of temples and coed monastery, , a renowned calligrapher, and a trail of stone-hewn stairs way up the side of a mountain that people carry bags of rock up to prove their devotion. It is also the site of a compound used briefly by Chiang Kai-shek and his wife, who are shown in scarily life-like effigy. It was a bit of distance from Lanzhou, of well over an hour by car. It was beautiful, but we chickened out on the stairs about half way up, with our middle aged knees singing to us.
Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them
Located on the side of a mountain is a series of temples and coed monastery, , a renowned calligrapher, and a trail of stone-hewn stairs way up the side of a mountain that people carry bags of rock up to prove their devotion. It is also the site of a compound used briefly by Chiang Kai-shek and his wife, who are shown in scarily life-like effigy. It was a bit of distance from Lanzhou, of well over an hour by car. It was beautiful, but we chickened out on the stairs about half way up, with our middle aged knees singing to us.
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| Near the entrance was rather tourist-focused. |
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| A temple could be seen up on the mountainside. |
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| Looking back at the gated entrance, there were "stone" pillars where people had their picture taken (seen through the middle). |
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| The villa covered by a giant quonset hut was on the road to the steps. |
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| Needless to say, I followed directions... |
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| Carrying devotion rocks to the temples |
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| Round door to the grounds of Chiang Kai-Shek's Palace. |
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| Model of Shek (right) and his secretary (left) |
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| Mme. Chiang Kai-Shek in front of a vanity mirror; are they making a point? |
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| Cave and escape route under the house...just in case... |
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| Stairs up to the first temple, with a rock carrier at top. |
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| Making tea via solar energy |
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| Female monk |
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| The monk monastery |
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| Temple next to monastery. |
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| Well-known calligrapher showing his certificate. |
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| His work. |
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| Creating a dragon. |
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| The person in yellow is his assistant (also a calligrapher-in-training) |
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| Enthusiastic monk watching creation |
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| Signage |
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| He was expecting us to buy it as "impressed" Western tourists; the translated price ended with the word "hundred" so we turned it down, and he was disappointed (and surprised). Also, note the tear and the lower loop; there was no way we could have brought it home undamaged, anyway. |
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| The point in the mountain stairs we gave up. |
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| Sleeping in the shade of the stairs on a hot day. |
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