Road Trip in Gansu Countryside, China, July 2014

Text and images (c) Robert Barry Francos
Pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them

Lanzhou, our place of residence in Gansu Province, is a modern city surrounded by old farmsteads and dusty mountains, as it is in a arid, desert environment. We took a road trip around the more rural areas. Again, many of these photos were taken out of a moving car window, so they sometimes have glare, reflections or the frame of the car.

Sing for "Lanzhou" at the tollbooth for the Expressway

Leaving Lanzhou

People used to live in those caves, which they dug out.

Peacock statue in the Baylin town center.

"Song of Unending Sorrow" Theater Production, Huaqing Hot Springs, Xi'an, China: July 10, 2014

Text and photos (c) Robert Barry Francos / FFotos By Francos, 2014
Photos can be enlarge by clicking on them After seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors and a bite to eat, Victor took us to an infamous theater show at the base of Mt. Lishan. It tells the story in (prerecorded) music and dance about Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) Emperor Xuanzong, and his favorite concubine, Yang Yuhuan. There are dozens of dancers, light shows, and even the mountain plays a part in the story. Top of the line effects are used, including the rising of a moon, fountains, bridges rising from Nine Dragon Lake, and beautiful costumes.

Joined by Victor's family, the rain was just ending and there was a stunning double rainbow head before the start of the show. Once it began, I began to notice the audience taking flash pictures. This does not bother me, per se, but it's a pet peeve when they do it from a distance of the stage. As the flash only goes about a dozen feet on average (these were cell phone cameras), all you get is the back of the head of the person in front. But I digress... I took non-flash shots, and some actually came out despite the dark and the movement.

They have been doing the same production for years now, as it is the only show the theater troupe apparently does, so you could see some of the meh look of the dancers. This did not, however, detract from the spectacular show.

Now here is a cultural difference I found interesting: in Saskatoon, people give standing ovations for just about anything. At this show, however, when it ended and the cast took its bows (to projected credits behind them like a movie theater), there was a mere smattering of lackadaisical applause, even though it was pretty evident everyone enjoyed the show. Here are the best of my shots.

Pre-show rainbow.

Nine Dragon Lake in front of the Pavilion. Even though we sat near the front, it seemed quite far away.



Victor under the sunset.

Images projected onto a fountain's water.

I love my telephoto lens!



During the cast call, the LED credits roll behind them.

 

Qin Museum of Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, Xi'an, China: July 10, 2014

Text and photos (c) Robert Barry Francos / FFotos By Francos, 2014
Photos can be enlarge by clicking on them

The Terra Cotta Warriors is arguable the most famous part of Xi'an, China.

The background: A farmer digging a well in the countryside comes across a clay soldier, and notifies the authorities. His farm turns into one of the largest excavation sites in the world that is still currently in process. Thousands of these soldiers of various ranks and positions, such as archers and wagon masters, were found from the early Tang dynasty (around 320 BCE), including horses and wooden carts, arrows, spears, and nearly anything else that would create an army. Each of these soldiers are based on a real person and are individual.

The way they are build is the bottom half is solid, weighing around 300 pounds, to keep the soldier steady. The top part is hollow. The field was covered by a massive Quonset hut as they dug around the soldiers, buried in formation to protect the first Emperor.

That farmer now works for the government, and sits in the souvenir area, signing books. He does not look happy, but rather quite bored and snappish. I tried to take his picture and he became terse.

The area surrounding the museum is one giant market of tourist traps, selling everything from real wolf fur to strange monster figures, to model soldiers. We were even approached by some teens trying to sell us samples of a detergent. They were impressed with us for some reason, and took our pictures (and we returned the favor), giving us a sample, which ended up being an excellent cleaner!

Victor came with us, but hired a guide to show us around.

The Emperor watches over the tourists arriving.

Teen make some summer money with samples of detergent.

Everyone who attends this museum has this same shot, so why should I be different?

Charioteer "holding" the reins.

No, it was not colder than a well digger's...



There is still a lot yet to be uncovered.

Recently worked upon warriors.





A general, the highest rank.

When we came out of the museum, it had been raining.

In the center is a wolf fur for sale, along with other pelts.

A candid of our guide.

A vendor selling a toy that flies from the wrist.

Vendors carrying fruit to restock their cart.