Dianchi: On the second day of the trade fair, open only to dealers, Peep left the manning of the booth to her coworkers and spent the day with me sightseeing, first stopping on the shores of Dianchi (Dian Lake). From our spot, we could see across the lake to the Western Hills, which are supposed to look like the outline of a beautiful woman lying in the water. However, I was unable to make out the image, which may have just been due to our vantage point. We spent several more minutes admiring the view before walking across the parking lot and purchasing tickets for a cable car ride that would take us across the lake and halfway up the Western Hills.
The Western Hills: Once in the Western Hills, we purchased a combination ticket that would give us access to all the features of the park. The Western Hills are dotted with grottoes and small buildings used for Taoist worship. Our first activity was to board a chair lift for the ride further up the mountain, where we continued up further still on foot to the highest structure in the park, the Lingxu Pavilion. From there we could just make out Kunming and Dianchi below through the foggy atmosphere.
Upper Structures: From our high spot atop the mountain, we headed back down, following the stone staircases and pathways as they wound along the mountainside, stopping at several points to admire the view along the way, including Yaocheng, Haoran and Huifeng Pavilions, Caiyun Cave and Tiantai Platform. As the slope got steeper, we passed through a short tunnel and down some steep steps before arriving at the Dragon's Gate.
Dragon's Gate: The term Dragon's Gate can refer to either a pathway and the temples it connects, all carved out of a sheer cliff on the Western Hills, or the top entrance to the pathway. Either way, we passed through the entrance and made our way down a steep tunnel, pausing halfway to look out a portal in the cliff face. At the bottom we encountered the Datian Pavilion and Xinhua Cave. Along with the Phoenix Gate, which we saw later, these places of worship and the figures within them are carved out of the mountain, rather than being built from separate material. It was an impressive feat.
Lower Structures: Now beyond Dragon's Gate, we continued down the mountain stopping at several more places, each dedicated to a different religious figure. The most historically important of these is Sanqing Pavilion, which seems to be used as nothing more than a place to sell food and tourist trinkets these days.
Bus Ride: Still halfway up the mountain, we walked along a paved road until we reached the cable car station we rode up in the morning, and past it to the bus station to catch a bus that would take us to the sites on the lower half of the mountain. There was some discussion by the guy at the bus terminal, but it was all in Chinese and we didn't understand anything he was attempting to tell us. In the end, our bus tickets proved valid and we were permitted to board the next bus to leave the station.
Confusion on the Mountain: Not able to understand any of the instructions given on the bus, Peep and I missed the first stop on the way down the mountain, but got off at the second and toured the temple there. Afterward, we were back on the bus and ended up at the bottom of the mountain without making another stop. Once there, we realized we needed to inform the bus attendant where we wanted to stop, as the bus would not otherwise stop. Good thing we needed to go back up to catch the cable car back across Dianchi to meet back up with our driver.
Huating Temple: At our sole stop on the way down the mountain, we saw Huating Temple. Originally designed as a country retreat for the governor of Kunming in 1063, it was transformed into a Buddhist temple in the fourteenth century and further expanded to become the largest Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan Province. Inside, we say many statues of the Buddha and statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, gods who watch over each of the four cardinal directions.
Return Trip: On our way back up the mountain, we first saw the Yulan Garden, where few flowers were on display, presumably due to the time of year in which we visited. Our second stop was at the Memorial Hall of Xu Yun, right across the street from Huating Temple, but well hidden. Xu Yun was an influential Buddhist teacher in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and reportedly lived to 119 years of age (1840-1959). This temple honoring him was still under construction, but we walked around inside it anyway.
Taihua Temple: Back at the original stop we missed on the way down the mountain, we stepped off the bus and walked uphill to Taihua Temple. Although originally constructed in the fourteenth century, the current temple dates back to 1687, having been rebuilt due to fire. It is well-known for its rare flowers and trees, which bloom in the springtime.
Tomb of Nie Er: We just missed the bus headed back to the upper terminal after visited Taihua Temple and had to wait for the next one. The buses don't seem to run on a regular schedule, but rather only leave when there is a certain number of passengers waiting at the terminal station. We did eventually make it the rest of the way back up the mountain where we stopped to see the Tomb of Nie Er, a composer and creator of the national anthem of China, "March of the Volunteers". Then it was back down the cable car and to the hotel.
Dinner: We made plans with Dragon and Pou for dinner, looking for a western-style restaurant. We ended up at the Astsidjmoy Maid Restaurant, a cosplay restaurant where the waitresses dress up as maids and serve their customers as masters. Cosplay is popular in Japan, but is apparently making its way into China, as well. I ordered what looked like lasagne on the Chinese-language menu, but ended up being served macaroni and cheese instead.
Shopping: After dinner, Pou wanted to stop at Walmart. We had the cab driver drop us off at a Supercenter, which was packed with shoppers as well as goods. The store was located only a block from our hotel, so after we were done shopping we just walked the rest of the way there.