October in China Pt 4

So, last we were together we had just finished our last tour in Beijing. The next day was to be a travel day so we got a good nights sleep. Believe me, it wasn't difficult with all the walking and climbing of the previous day. We had a 10:30 train from the Main Beijing station just across the street from us, so it wasn't a big deal to get there.

The Main Beijing Station from our hotel window

Just like any other transportation they x-ray your baggage, and what not. Its not too strenuous a search since no one can own anything too destructive. We were taking the high speed train, and including stops along the way out trip would last about 5 hours. The rail line runs north tracing the coast (not on it) through Shenyang, then proceeds directly north to Siping then Chanchun and Harbin. The train is very comfortable with a ton of leg room even if the person in front of  you reclines their seat, which most people do. The train also has hot water spigots to heat up your ramen bowl. We had stopped at the store next to the hotel to buy some before we left. If you forget to buy something before you leave, there are girls selling stuff from carts most of the trip. I did note on our return trip they did not do this, so, maybe it is just when leaving Beijing. Here is a good place to note the lack of sitting toilets. The only place I noted sitting toilets were in apartments, and our hotel. All other public spaces have squatting toilets. That means parks, restaurants, stores, museums, etc. No it is not the stereotypical hole in the floor, it is a porcelain bowl, but, you still have to squat for any business you would do sitting. For me, I made sure I did that business in the hotel or apartment. The only other thing a western person might find odd is the tossing of used toilet paper into a trash bin rather than flushing. Again this was in public spaces and I did not experience this in apartments or hotels.

Our trip was quite comfortable with plenty of farmland to view on the way. Soon we arrived in Siping at the Siping East Station. This station serves the high speed lines. The main station is in downtown Siping for the regular trains. We were picked up by Qiuyan's brother Yifu. He is the only one with a car so I guess he volunteered. With him came Qiuyan's daughter Zhuoyue. It had been six years since Qiuyan had been home so it was a nice homecoming for all. We piled into the car and made our way to Qiuyan's apartment where her daughter resides. Before heading upstairs to the apartment, we went across the street to have a quick dinner. Then we climbed the stairs to the 7th floor, there is no elevator, and got settled in. It is an older apartment, constructed from, what I could tell, concrete and brick. I would say typical communist era construction adapted to the Chinese way of life. A small kitchen with a sink, and enough room for a counter top gas burner. No ovens in older Chinese homes. There was a living room, two bedrooms, and the bathroom. Really what I would consider a fairly normal place along the lines of western standards for the most part.

Our first full day in Siping was filled with Qiuyan running around to various government offices registering her property and doing some other things. She had been out of country for over 6 years so there was a few things to do. It was nice to get out and stretch our legs. We did a lot of that in Siping. Walking was our primary mode of transportation, and we usually walked several miles a day. There were buses (1 yuan) and cabs (avg ride was 5-7 yuan, at 6 yuan to the dollar it was almost free) if we were going to the other side of the city.

The next day I got to meet most of the family. We went to her fathers apartment and were soon joined by both her brothers as well. Then we went out for a family dinner just down the street. On our arrival back we got this family picture.

L-R Rear - Yifu, Qiuyan, me, Zhuoyue, Lifu Mom
Front - Dad

Yifu is a police officer there in Siping. Lifu is an amazing artist in all sorts of mediums. After this picture we went to Qiuyan"s aunt apartment. Since I don't understand Chinese, and therefore any of the conversation around me, Lifu was showing me pictures of his art he had stored on his phone. He travels all over working, as many Chinese do. His wife is in Siping, and his son works in Shenzhen. There are not too many opportunities in Siping, even though there is a rather large population there. Here are a few dioramas he construted

He also does paintings, murals, sculpture, calligraphy, you name it. Quite a talented guy. He is really the polar opposite of his brother. Yifu is rather staid and not very talkative. While Lifu is very outgoing, friendly, and humorous.  I'm going to cut this post off here. The next subject deserves its own post so I'll do that one up, and you will get two for the price of one, so to speak.