5/25/14

East Lake is a large lake in the Wuhan area and we had a scenic overlook from a nearby hill.
East Lake is a large lake in the Wuhan area and we had a scenic overlook from a nearby hill.

Wuhan is the capitol city of Hubei Province, and at ~ 10 million people it is the largest city in central China.   One of our most memorable meals (and they seem like they’ve all been big!) was a restaurant next door to the Taoist temple, known for its great variety of tofu (looks and tastes like chicken or beef, has similar textures, but is tofu!).  We visited the famed Wuhan museum that has many cultural artifacts excavated from nearby areas, showing how this area was major center of civilization in China for millennia. We listened to a small concert on reproduction bells and instruments copied from those past dynasties.

Wuhan’s Changchun temple dates back to the reign of Genghis Khan, and still is a peaceful retreat with colorful red ribbons that display wishes. Outside the temple gates, city street fortune tellers read palms and shake sticks.
Wuhan’s Changchun temple dates back to the reign of Genghis Khan, and still is a peaceful retreat with colorful red ribbons that display wishes.
Outside the temple gates, city street fortune tellers read palms and shake sticks.
Outside the temple gates, city street fortune tellers read palms and shake sticks.
Wu treasures
The Wuhan museum has impressive pieces of cultural heritage, such as this carved jade and gold piece.
We topped off a busy day with a nice dinner on a lakeshore pavilion.
We topped off a busy day with a nice dinner on a lakeshore pavilion.
Grilled frogs on a stick are a tasty snack.
Grilled frogs on a stick are a tasty snack.

I gave two lectures at the China University of Geosciences, a campus that has over 20,000 students in geoscience-related disciplines.  The campus was impressive, especially with its outdoor rock displays.

In the center of China University of Geosciences is a lovely petrified forest park area with grouped fossil trees of different regions on realistic looking tree “root” bases.
In the center of China University of Geosciences is a lovely petrified forest park area with grouped fossil trees of different regions on realistic looking tree “root” bases.

 

Petrified forest sign.
Petrified forest sign.
Several seating areas had lovely large polished petrified round tables with smaller polished tree trunk bases.
Several seating areas had lovely large polished petrified round tables with smaller polished tree trunk bases.

With my Chinese descent and a name like Chan, I often disappoint folks with my inability to speak Chinese (especially if they’re trying to get me to buy something).  But it has been interesting to finally get to visit China, home of my family roots.

– Margie