Afternoon - Day 6 Long Li Ancient City

About 2 hours into our 4 hour journey we stopped in an old city that is famous for its stone architecture. It is also famous because Mao had a meeting here during the civil war. Chinese history says that his is the location where Chairman Mao took power of the communist rebels and lead them to victory against Chiang Kai Chex.
The other interesting thing about this city (and I can't remember the name of this city) is the long bowed street. It rises on both ends and is low in the middle.

Art work from the "meeting place" of the communist rebels.

Chairman Mao's bed room while he was staying in this city

Our guide's grandparents lived in this home when he was growing up. He remembers that it was surrounded by rice patties and he visited them once every two years because it was a long journey from the city to this village. He also remembers going over the mountains on a bus in the winter when there was snow on the roads and the bus had chains to get up the hills. He didn't think it was any problem when he was as kid but now he thinks it was really dangerous traveling on the bus with slick roads without guard rails on the mountain roads. Jason's aunt and uncle still live in this house. This is their kitchen.

We had lunch in this village......by this time I choose not to look in the kitchen when the food was being prepared. Some times ignorance IS bliss!

Back on the bus.....only another 2 hours too our next stop.

Our next destination was Long Li Ancient City. It is one of three "ecological museums" in this area. China and Norway partnered in this project to keep the city and it's inhabitants historically preserved.

This was probably the low point of your trip. Okay...not probably....it was! We were all tired and cold and wanted some sort of Western food. We arrived at our hotel which was really a "hostel".

This is the kitchen of the hotel.

We had one of the VIP suites because we had a squatty potty in our room. I am not really sure that was a plus.....In the photo it looks 100% better than in real life and it was.....a bit smelly.

Our group rallied though and left the hotel for a walk around the village.

This city is really "ancient" . I forgot how old....but....it is really really old.

Door ways dressed for the New Year

People in the streets.

This building was the old school. Now it is pretty much empty with the exception of the first floor. The kids us it for a roller skating rink. Pretty cool!

This village is known for gambling. Every New Year the tables come out and the whole village play for money. We even saw little kids maybe age 5 playing dice and cards with a wad of money in their hands. After the New Year holiday the tables are put away until the following year.

Art work on the walls of one home

Fire warning signs were posted every where we went. All the villages had signs.....some were pretty cute. "kis our joint responsibility"

We walked to the back side of the skating rink and the kids all came to the window to say "hello!"
This village is also famous for the the dragon dance. We heard rumors that the dragon would make it's first appearance this evening. I was not so sure when we saw this guy's dragon still "in progress". The head is really beautiful.

More sights in the village.

a weal to you and me???

Tim was fascinated by this construction style .... this post was holding up a building.

The kids were really friendly and fun

After the tour of the city we came back to our hotel and set up our own card game. We found a short table and some stools in the lobby and moved them outside. It was actually warmer outside than in the hotel. No worries though.....the beer was nice and cold because it had been on the shelf in the lobby. Tiffany cards and this village.....priceless! We also played a game of "pass the pigs". The sun was shining finally! and we had and great time playing cards. All in all....this was one of the most miserable days and one of the best days.


These little guys lived in the house across the street from the hotel. They came by and visited us several times during the evening.

This was my "picture of the day".

We were lucky....the dragon did come out that evening. The kids carry different parts of the dragon. the baskets are made from piglet baskets and they either have a candle inside of the basket or a flashlight. On the first night the dragon goes to homes that have had a special event that year.....like a new baby....or a wedding. The dragon goes all the way into the house and then back out.

It is sort of like our Halloween. The kids get candy and treats from the homes that they visit.