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  • Land of sheep at Cingjing Farm

    Land of sheep at Cingjing Farm

    Cingjing farm stay (清境農場) was part of our Taiwan family trip in which our Taiwanese relatives have planned the itinerary. It’s my son’s (who was 1 year old then) maiden overseas trip. Upon meeting them at the Airport, we boarded the rented bus, which will be our transport for the whole trip since there’re almost 20 of us. And off we go from Taipei to Cingjing Farm!

    Taiwan Cingjing is a huge idyllic farm situated at Nantou County and sits at 1,750m above sea level. Hence, the ride leading up to Cingjing can be both thrilling and uncomfortable, as the bus navigates those winding roads while the altitude difference creeps in. But it’s worthwhile once we reached Cingjing Farm in the evening, the scenic and tranquil surroundings readily take away whatever uneasiness away from us. Just look at the sea of clouds – how nice it would be to have this view every day!

    Beautiful cing jing

    Sea of clouds at Cing jing

    After we checked in at Cingjing Guomin Guesthouse, our dinner was at Lumama Restaurant (清境魯媽媽雲南擺夷料理) which serves authentic Yunnan cuisine using local produce from the farms nearby. I must say that the dishes are very unique and different…but it just doesn’t go well with my taste bud…

    Lumama Restaurant

    We also caught the light show at Little Swiss Garden (小瑞士花园).

    Green Green Grassland at Cingjing

    Next morning, we head to Green Green Grassland (青青草原) which is the main attraction of Cingjing farm. Here’s where herds of sheep roam around this big piece of grassland but they’re busy eating the grass most of the time and might not even bother lifting their heads. Still, the combo of those carefree sheep, blue sky and the greens are just so picturesque around Green Green Grassland.

    Green Green Grassland entrance

    Stone at Green Green Grassland

    For attention seeking and hungry sheep, head to the castle where the lovely animals are kept in pen. So you can either purchase food to feed them, get close to them, or just touch their furry heads. There are also sheep/ goat related products being sold at the retail store.

    Castle at Green Green Grassland

    Cute looking Sheep at green green grassland

    We then proceed to the amphitheatre for the sheep shearing show which only takes place during the weekends. Walking along the pathway while taking in the scenic surrounding is one fantastic experience, can’t say the same for the scorching sun that morning though.

    Herds of sheep at green green grassland

    Sad looking sheep at green green grassland

    Running Sheep Cing jing

    Lone Tree at Green Green Grassland.jpg

    The amphitheatre was already full of people by the time we got there. It’s a rather entertaining show with a mandarin speaking New Zealander 老外 as he called himself, herds the sheep and demonstrates his sheep shearing skills.

    Cing jing sheep shearing show

    Pony at Green Green Grassland

    We continued to explore around the beautiful Green Green Grassland after the show.

    Scenic grassland

    Windmill at green green grassland

    Wooden sheep

    Statue at cingjing

    Do try the locally produced fruits here, damn fresh and good!

    Market stalls

    And we bought honey from this honey-selling shop house where bees are seen circling above our heads. Hmm… I didn’t know sheep and bee go hand in hand?

    Bee honey shop at green green grassland

    Bees at green green grassland

    Honey products

    STAY: Cingjing Guomin Guesthouse review

    The rooms of our Cingjing Guomin guesthouse come with a nice balcony with a great mountainous view. It’s also very near to the Little Swiss Garden and amenities like 7-11 and souvenirs shops. In which, tickets to Green Green Grassland and Little Swiss Garden are inclusive in the room prices. The experience here was a good one.

    Cingjing Guesthouse

    Cingjing Guesthouse view from room

    We spent the evening listening to the live performance of a singer from one of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes, which took place just next to the guesthouse. Many people like us braved through the cold weather for his soulful songs.

    Live music at Cingjing Guomin Guesthouse

    Audience at Cing jing Guomin Guesthouse

    And this couple went further by dancing to the music.

    Dancing to the music at Cingjing Guomin Guesthouse

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    What are your thoughts about Cingjing farm? Leave a comment and share it with me.

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  • Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi Town

    Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi Town

    After seeing the giant panda, it was a long bus ride to Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛). Leshan Giant Buddha is a stone statue being carved directly into the side of a hill overlooking the confluence of three rivers – Minjiang (岷江), Dadu (大渡) and Qingyi (青衣). The three rivers coming together had created choppy waters and strong currents. It causes many local boats to capsize as a result.

    A monk was concerned about the accidents, so he proposed for a Buddha statue to be carved from the rock while using the rubbles to fill the river bed in a bid to calm the water currents. The construction took 90 long years to be completed but efforts were paid off as accidents had reportedly reduced. And now what’s left is the world’s tallest and awe-inspiring Giant Buddha. The Buddha was featured before in The Storm Riders movie starring Aaron Kwok and Ekin Cheng.

    I would very much prefer to see the Giant Buddha on foot because it doesn’t make sense to travel so far and long just to catch a glimpse… If only I get to choose… And so we boarded a boat and put on the mandatory lifejackets provided while the boat slowly made its way towards the Buddha.

    Boat Ride to Leshan

    Boats to Leshan

    Boat Ride to Leshan Buddha

    Stairs leading to Giant Buddha

    Path leading to Giant Buddha.jpg

    When the boat reached alongside the Buddha, it stopped briefly for people on board to have a good view of Buddha. The strong water currents can be felt even while the boat is stationary. But my, the majestic Leshan Giant Buddha is so amazing! We were told that it’s 71 meters tall and each giant toe is already around 8 meters… Wow, just look at those ant-like humans around the foot area!

    Leshan Giant Buddha view

    Leshan Giant Buddha

    Le shan Giant Buddha view from river

    Majestic Leshan Giant Buddha

    Before we knew it, the boat moved forward slowly and turned back. And the 20-30 minutes boat ride was over…oh well.

    Huanglongxi Ancient Town

    Next destination was an ancient town named Huanglongxi (黄龙溪镇) before heading back to Chengdu. A picturesque quaint town which has a history dated almost 1,700 years back. In addition, the buildings around here seem well preserved and we were told that it has been featured as backdrops for movies.

    Huanglongxi Ancient Town

    Around Huanglongxi

    Bridges

    Lanterns

    Huanglongxi

    Mills

    The charming town of Huanglongxi is quite big. And it has some uniqueness which made it rather interesting.

    Funny stuffs

    Other stuffs

    Local delights

    Tianfu Square, Kuan Zhai Xiangzi and Chunxi Road

    The last day of the trip was spent around Tianfu Square (天府广场), Kuan Zhai Xiangzi (宽窄巷子) and Chunxi Road (春熙路). Tianfu Square is located at Chengdu’s city centre, where a huge iconic statue of Mao Zedong stands. The site used to be where the Imperial Palace once stood. But sadly, it was destroyed during China’s Cultural Revolution. For a city which has been the capital city for so many emperors in the past, there weren’t any palaces which remain to tell its historical importance.

    Mao Statue at Tianfu Square

    Tianfu Square Chengdu

    Tianfu Square

    Kuan Zhai Xiangzi

    Kuan Zhai Xiangzi simply means “Wide and Narrow Streets” and it’s yet another ancient town we visited. The area is much smaller than Jinli but has the usual teahouses, foodstuff, handicrafts and performing arts.

    Kuan Zhai Xiangzi

    Map of Kuan Zhai Xiangzi

    Around Kuan Zhai Xiangzi

    Kuanzhai Xiangzi

    Shops around Kuanzhai Xiangzi

    Starbucks at Kuan Zhai Xiangzi

    Zhai No.1

    Oh, and the ear cleaning service, right in the open street.

    Ear Cleaning Service

    Chunxi shopping street

    Chunxi Road is Chengdu’s shopping strip with lots of restaurants, cafes, shops and malls lining the street.

    Crowds in Chunxi Road

    Chunxi Road in Chengdu

    Chunxi Rod

    Well, shopping ain’t my thing so I just grabbed some ice cream and people watch at Häagen-Dazs. Next to the ice cream shop is a bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen and the wall beside with four Chinese characters 天下为公.

    Sun Yat-sen statue in Chengdu

    Next to statue of Sun Yat-sen

    That sums up my short stay in Chengdu and I do hope to come back here on my own in future. So that I can explore more stuff and perhaps venture to the nearby National Parks like Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟).

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    What are your thoughts about Leshan Giant Buddha or Huanglongxi? Leave a comment and share it with me.

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