Saying Good-bye to Hangzhou Again

2017-7-1

PIONEER organized a group activity to Hangzhou on July 1,2017. (We will climb the North Peak, visit Lingyin Temple on July 1 and visit Liuhe Pagoda on July 2.)

Everything’s hard in the beginning. Only go through ordeal can be succeed.

First day

Trouble one: The train delay.

The departure time was changed to eleven thirty which originally scheduled to set out at seven twenty-seven in the morning from Shanghai Hongqiao and arrived in Hangzhou at eight thirty-two because of the heavy rain have washed away the railway. The whole group activity has been delayed for nearly 3 hours.

Trouble two: Unexpected heavy rain.
We arrived at Hangzhou railway station at about twelve thirty. After leaving the station, we took No. 4 bus to Hangzhou botanical garden and prepared to transfer to Yuquan Campus, Zhejiang University. No sooner had we reached Yuquan Campus than it began to rain. Since we haven’t had lunch yet, Louis suggested us to go to the restaurant across the bus stop and waited until the rain stops by the way. During the lunch, I was always worried about the rain would not stop, thus the whole arrangement will be delayed again. Fortunately, the heavy rain was transient it was sunny after lunch. Louis quoted a famous saying from “Tao Te Ching” by Laozi, ferocious things will not last too long. At about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, Louis and I went into Yuquan Campus and prepared to climb the North Peak. When I passed Chairman Mao’s statute, I remembered that Chairman Mao said “A man should be confidence and that will make things happen!” I was afraid that I can’t insist on climbing the peak at first (Due to my poor health condition, I was worried about that I can’t complete the task.) but Chairman Mao’s sentence gave me great confidence! Where there’s a will there’s a way!

(Figure 1was the photograph of Chairman Mao and Louis.)

Trouble three: Physical strength assigns.

After took the photo we started to climb the peak. Louis advised us to take a “front and back walk” during climbing the mountain, it will make an invisible traction. If anyone gets tired, then the other one will switch the position to take the lead. I threw caution to climb the mountain as fast as I can at first, there’s a long distance between Louis and I. During the interval, Louis told me that I should allocate my physical strength reasonably, strike a balance between climb the mountain and get down. Otherwise it’s hard to climb when I exhausted my energy. After took Louis’s advice, I began to slow down, saved my strength and have some rest during climbing the mountain. The climbing route was Laohe Mountain-JIangjun Mountain-Meinnv mountain-Lingfeng Mountain-Guozi Mountain-North Peak-Lingyin Temple. We met a 3 members family when we en route. The 6 or 7 years old son and the 30 years old dad climbed fast just like me, the younger mother was always followed him. The son and his dad need to wait her from time to time. We took a rest at Jiangjun Mountain with them, when we moved on they still have a rest there. Until we reached North Peak, we haven’t seen them. Maybe they didn’t allocate their physical strength reasonably. Think of Louis’s advice to me at the beginning, I have a deep understanding of “One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests.”

(Figure 2 was the beautiful view along the journey.)

Trouble four: The left shoe was broken.

Here came the fourth trouble when we climbed the Meinv Mountain. Louis’s left sole had come unglued. It’s very dangerous for climbing mountain. Without a pair of suitable shoes, climbers will feel tired and may occur some unforeseen problems, especially after the rain, the mountain road will become slippery, it’s should be pay more attention. After walk 20 minutes later, the outer sole completely fell off, only the lining is still attached to the upper. But Louis still decided to move towards to North Peak without any slightest timidity or tried to change the plan and threw the sole into the rubbish bin resolutely after he held a little “farewell ceremony” for the Adidas sports shoes’ sole that Louis wear this pair of shoes walked though Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuxi and Hongkong cross-country road since 2009. 

(Figure 3 was Louis with his detached sole.)

Trouble five: Slipped while walking down the hill.

In the process of continued, I began to feel tied gradually. I began to have a rest frequently and always have a long time for rest. I can’t help backing down. I was worried about that I will encounter criticism from Louis due to my timidity and can’t persist in doing things. What the hell, I thought, just do it. I’m here now and I must reach the top and not give up halfway! Thought of these, I cheerer myself up. I wanted to prove it to Louis especially to myself that I can do this. Just climbing a mountain that 313 meters about sea level. Come on!

I had lapped Louis during went up the mountain (Because Louis had an operation on his knee. Cut off one third meniscuses, removal of posterior cruciate ligament, stapled 3 screws and twined round ligaments to replace ligaments. In this situation, it’s difficult for Louis to climb a mountain.) but during went down the mountain, he’s ahead of me. He’s flexible and fast I can’t even catch him and I fell 2 times when we’re went down the mountain.
It’s a big loss for Louis that he didn’t take a photo when I was fell down.

(Figure 4, I was fell down and stand up for an instant. Louis took a snap shot.)

There’s a long stone step in front of the North Peak. We didn’t know after walking through the long stone step we will reach to the North Peak. We decided to save our energy after saw this long stone step.

(Figure 5 was the stone steps that led into the North Peak.)

Suddenly we realized that we had arrival at the North Peak after we went through the long stone steps. I was very excited that I did it, I prove it to myself! With the road of life stretched endless ahead, you should have the courage to trudge over a long way independently. No matter how far the journey is and no matter how high the mountains are, a willful man always has the way!

Trouble six: Small Leiyin Temple
There’s a temple on the North Peak called “Number 1 Mammon Temple” (The big plaque is hang on the gate.) At first, we all considered this temple as Lingyin Temple in the legend. (Maybe Louis’s old or tired he can’t recognize the real Lingyin Temple.) We found the temple called “Lingshun Temple” actually after we bought the ticket and visit the temple. (The small plaque is hang on below the big plaque. There is a difference of only a single word between the name of Lingyin Temple and Lingshun Temple. It may make tourists feel confused.) No matter the temple does this deliberately or due to our carelessness, there’s a temple here on the way to visit Lingyin Temple, I think most of people will mix up. After we left this temple, Louis joked that because we didn’t watch carefully lead to we just leave a small “bogus” temple. Maybe we are carried away by happiness so that we didn’t find the flaw. Since the temple called “Number 1 Mammon Temple”, I hope the gods can bless PIONEER business flourishes with plentiful money earning. (Louis may think I’m very vulgar after see this. But we were deceived by our greed wasn’t that?!.)

(Figure 6 was the “Number 1 Mammon Temple”.)

(Figure 7 was the dazzling lotus tribute in Number1 Mammon Temple.)

(Figure 8 was the mammon in the temple. They made Louis feel strange. So vulgar a temple is! After visiting the temple, he realized this is not the real “Lingyin Temple”.)

Trouble seven: The right shoe was broken too.
Here came the seventh trouble when we went down the mountain. You didn’t guess wrong the Louis’s right sole had come unglued too. Maybe the mad monk saw our sincerity he wanted to take something from us as souvenirs. Of course, Louis can’t miss this time to show his literary talent and grace. He commended the right sole for its loyalty to the left sole: “Don't wish we were born on the same day but wish we can die at the same time.” Louis put it into the rubbish bin too. There is a bond between them in this life and maybe they will meet each other in next life, because the distance between them only less than 1 kilometers. I really appreciate the soul with love and loyalty.

Trouble eight: You won’t see the world when you’re in the room.
At last, we came to the Linying Temple area without tickets. (Perhaps we don’t need to buy tickets because we entered in from Yuquan Campus.) (We judged this by suddenly increasing numbers of visitors and they came across us.) After passed the “Peak Flown from Afar”, saw the “Maitreya”, we still found where is Lingyin Temple. (We considered that will be a specific place with gates and yards.) Asked shopkeepers for help, we knew that all the area here are Lingyin Temple! (The real Lingyin Temple we found!) We picked up some rubble as a memento. They will also be a special gift to Louis’s gift. (We didn’t destroy any cultural treasures and mountain scenery. We picked them on the way.)

(Figure 9 was the stela in front of Peak Flown from Afar.)

(Figure 10 was the Maitreya.)

Trouble 9: Missed General Yuefei.
Went down the mountain by way of Peak Flown from Afar, and then walked along Lingyin Road towards to West Lake. We arrived at West Lake at half past seven in the evening. We had no choice but to took a photo outside the Mausoleum of General Yuefei due to the train was delayed for 3 hours. I hope to have another chance to visit here. Louis said there are mural paintings about Yuefei’s growing course, inscription on a tablet of “repay the country with supreme loyalty” and photos of national leader visited here in it. What a pity I can’t visit here that day!

(Figure 11 was Mausoleum of General Yuefei.)

Trouble 10: Don’t buy the slippers!
Without soles and walked the road that full of broken stones, the first thing that Louis wanted to do is to buy a pair of slippers after arrived at West Lake. We found a private small shop eventually, asked the owner which is the cheapest slippers. The owner understood our purpose clearly and said with contemptuously:” 35yuan. Don’t bargain with me.” It’s made Louis very angry, he swung round and walked off. We went to the KFC nearby and ate something to recover energies. After that Louis decided to wear his Adidas shoes without soles fulfil the rest of the journey. (Walk around the West Lake and go back to the hotel on foot.) Louis prayed the Mad Monk for the battlewise sports shoes. He wished that his shoes can finish the final mission, don’t make him walk barefoot. We walked around the west lake anticlockwise. You’ve been there before and I won’t share some view that you’ve already seen it. Louis took me walked around the southeast of West Lake. (The lakeside opposite the former Zhang Xiaoquan’s scissors shop.) Louis told me he rode a bike from Wuxi to Hangzhou to visit somebody here 28 years ago, although the place had been changed beyond recognition.

(Figure 12, we devoured food in KFC.)

(Figure 13 was the somebody that mentioned in the article. Come to receive your photo. :))

(Figure 14 was West Lake in the evening.)

Trouble eleven: Miscalculation.
Before 11 o’clock in the night, we arrived at the hotel and checked in. The way moved from the end of east lakeside to the hotel, Louis’s shoes can’t continue to accompany with him anymore after climbed up and down the mountain and traveled around the West Lake on foot. Louis bought a pair of slippers with a reasonable price and put the sports shoes into the rubbish bin. Of course, Louis held a prayer ceremony.

(Figure 15, see you Adidas.)

In consideration of today’s exhausted exhaustion, Louis bought a big watermelon weighs 16 jin after he put on a pair of new shoes and feel full of confidence. The watermelon as a physical supplement after we arrived at hotel. But the distance between West Lake and the hotel was 1 kilometers not about 200 meters. I got the data from Internet and believed it blindly resulted in Louis carried the watermelon weighs 16 jin walked about 1 kilometers arrived at the hotel finally. Considered that I’m a woman with poor physical strength, he didn’t let me help him carried that big watermelon. He chose to carried the watermelon and wore a pair of slippers walked to the hotel. (On the way to hotel, we had to climb the escalator that be closed in the night of the bridge approach.) I must give thanks to Louis here. I need to study the soul of insist on doing things from him. He used his practical actions to teach how to active in work but modest in attitude. Try your best to do everything best.

(Figure 16, Louis carried the big watermelon towards to the hotel.)

Second day

Trouble twelve: How slight are our talent and how superficial our scholarship.
We visited Liuhe Pagoda in our schedule on July 2. We left the hotel at 10 in the morning and took 1 hour got Liuhe Pagoda by bus at eleven o two. Liuhe Pagoda was built for suppressing giant river tides. I thought it was just a general pagoda, but there’re many profound mysteries in it. There are 13 storeys outside, but only 7 storeys inside. The pagoda is connected by the spiral stairs. Each storey has an inscription by Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty. The meaning of them is wish people can understand the buddhist ethics and be kind. From the top of pagoda to the wall inside, there are lots of beautiful carved murals. We took a strong stand against tourists from all over the world scrawling on the tiles of the pagoda. But after appreciated murals, we can’t understand every meaning of it at all. Deeply feel that there are lots of bequests from the ancients we don’t inherit well. (About 1 month later, Louis found his copybook of Emperor Qianlong’s “Room of Three Rare Treasures” that carried from Xi’an rummaged through chests. He hung it on his home. He considered that a Manchu (Emperor Qianlong) can deeply engross in the Han culture, we should do better than him.)

(Figure 17 was the inscription by Emperor Qianlong on the seventh floor.)

(Figure 18 was the pattern in Liuhe Pagoda.)

(Figure 19 was the selfie of Louis and I. We were appreciated the view of the Qiantang River.)

(Figure 20, Louis took a photo as a memento in front of Liuhe Pagoda.)

Trouble thirteen: Travel all the wall.
After visited Liuhe Pagoda, we left at half past twelve at noon. Due to we need to take the train at two fifty-two in the afternoon go back, we had no choice but rushed to the railway station. Just like the first day of this journey, we took public transport only. We also felt the convenience debit transportation card in Hangzhou. But I still worried about my personal information may be revealed or not after using this card. I would rather go back to the safety and simple era, if the high-tech and conveniences at the cost of losing privacy. (Including records of consumption, account number and so on.)

(Figure 21 was the way to the railway station by metro.)

(Figure 22 was the way to the return trip.)

(Figure 23, Louis was tired and took a rest on the High-speed Rail with his slippers. The point was his new slippers. :))

Trouble fourteen: The long queue.
We arrived at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station at nine to four in the afternoon. The long queue made Louis feel disappointed. Our public construction facilities department should let the most professional designer design the station to avoid the long queue. The metro and high-speed train should save time for people. But just like the elevated road, without balance it will waste more and more time.

Although Louis still discussed the problem with me, I just want to go home and take a shower as soon as possible. I feel very exhausted after arrived in Shanghai. (Actually I heard everything.)

(Figure 24 was the Hongqiao Railway Station was full of people. Although the scale is the world leader it can’t solve the problem of rush hour at all.)

I’ve learn a lot from this group activity although it made me feel very tired and only went through 14 troubles. Louis and I walked 18 kilometers on July 1. I always consider that I can’t make it but I did it at last! I hope I can be strong in the future, insist in doing things and will not downhearted when facing different troubles. Though death befalls all men alike, it may be weightier than Mount Taishan or lighter than a feather. To have a meaningful life or a unsuccessful life just in your choice.

The group activity of PIONEER from July 1, 2017 to July 2 had completed perfect.
Journalist: Sara (Louis added 50% content, including chose the pictures perfectly, type setting, uploaded and so on. Can you recognize which words are Louis’s and which are mine?)

Translator: Sara