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Thursday, 24. May, 2001, Handan.
Another day that promised to keep us busy with sightseeing.
On this day our first destination was a formerly important Buddhist centre in a small village called Lin Zhao about two hours from Handan. Thanks to the idea of joining the escort for a high government official, we escaped the morning rush-hour, which in Handan with its seven million people is not less terrific that in Beijing. Being on our own again in the last part of the way to Lin Zhao, we obviously missed the corresponding turn-off, but after a wild Odyssey with a lot of hooting we finally arrived at this village.
There we found an exhibition of the excavated remnants of the former temple grounds, illustrated by numerous models, old drawings and documents of that period of time. The exhibition also contained colourful and restored Buddha statues. Especially impressive for us were the dark and narrow escape tunnel of the Buddhist Temple of Old Age.
Next we went to the Temple of Dreams, a large construction where a great number of Chinese emperors and heros are presented. One of the temples led us to the Sleeping Student who, according to the legend, asked for accomodation and fell fast asleep due to a special drink prepared by Buddha and got to know his future. This dream has been recorded by extensive wall paintings.
Being rather tired out by the sightseeing so far, we were, as usually, invited to an abundant meal in a noble hotel. And once again we could not restrain us from shopping, because interesting offers and the large range of the department store attracted us again and again.
Our general impression: It has been a successful day for our group.
© Katharina Faber und Marie Radtke im Juli 2001
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