Chongqing Cliff Notes - Part 1

The city view tour begins our visit to Chongqing.  We are blown away by the size of the city.  The buildings touch the sky.  The roads and rivers are the backbone here.  Where the Yangtzi and the Jialing Rivers meet, they continue flowing south as only the Yangtzi. Barges carrying coal, sand, and crates move up and down the river all day long.

A first view of the city of Chongqing, China

On the street near our hotel.  Tempting, but after
our head-cracking experience at the Xi'an hospital,
no Fulbright members opted to get a treatment here. 

The infamous durian fruit.  It's been described as smelling
like feet, dead and rotting things, and just plain awful.  I
met anyone who loves and eats this fruit.

Visits to the grocery store are interesting.  I don't know
what this fruit is called, but it sure is beautiful.

Bulk noodles

The fish department at the grocery strode

The poultry and rabbit department at the
grocery store.

More Chongqing city views

Chongqing City View

A visit to Jielong Middle School included dance,
tai chi, and musical performances.  We feel like such
celebrities when we arrive at our school sites.  

These girls did their best to teach us how to do their ribbon
dance.

Music class ended up being a time to play around with the
camera.

In the photo above, you can see part of the Jielong, a wind instrument.  This school prides itself in keeping this and other performance arts alive.  Jielong Chuida means wind and percussion instrument playing.  It is listed as one of China's non-material cultural heritages in 2006.  Jielong Chuida bands often perform at weddings, funerals, sports events, and business conferences.  The students offered us an opportunity to try to play music and dance.  They were very kind, but we knew they were amused. 

It feels right.  Why were they giggling?

The school highlights this tree, which is
growing on the foundation of a rock.  They
say that it is a metaphor for giving children a
firm foundation.

The tree shown above is one of two planted in 1995.  The trees were the same size when they were planted, but now, in 2013, the difference is great (The very small one is to the left of this one.  It is not pictured.).  The school staff guides students to draw a conclusion about this mystery.  They tell us that the bigger, stronger one has roots that have gone much deeper into the earth.   It absorbs more nutrients. Additionally, this larger tree has set its roots between the stones, overcoming harsh conditions.  This is a metaphor for students and their growth potential.  Only by standing on solid ground and meeting challenges can children grow into such a towering tree.  

The Stilwell Museum was an interesting look
at U.S. China alliances during WWII.

A poignant photo in the Stilwell Museum.

Learning about the Fighting Tigers, General Stilwell, and
U.S. - China alliances during WWII.

A wine shop on the street in Chongqing

A common activity for men.  They play cards (and gamble)
on the streets.

At several of the schools and universities that
we have visited, there are sculptures, or paintings,
or writings of Confucius.  He is back in the good
graces of the Chinese government after being
expelled for awhile.

A scene in the courtyard of the Great Hall of the People.

The Great Hall of the People in Chongqing, China

Great and small groups of people flock to the square

in the shadow of the Great Hall of the People

 to dance the evening away.

Another look at Chongqing proper.

Chongqing has between four and six thousand bridges, depending on who's telling the story.  The city is built on solid rock, like Manhattan, so does not have a great earthquake danger.  Flying from Xi'an to Chongqing was a great opportunity to see the terrain.  Looking out the window, I could see mountains, green valleys, and terrace-farming most of the way.  Abruptly, however, the farmland makes way for a multitude of high rise buildings.  The city appears so suddenly that it feels like a scene change in a movie.  It was 102 degrees fahrenheit that first day in Chongqing, and it hit like the blast from a furnace as we deplaned.