Relaxing in Liaocheng, etc.

We are updating our blog a little early this week given the fact that we are leaving on Saturday for Shanghai and other points in southern China.  We are also going to try to keep our posts up-to-date as we go along.  That way we won't forget what we have experienced.

This week we did some interesting things and didn't just do wash, pack bags and sleep in.  As mentioned in our previous blog, we headed to Liaocheng, a city about two hours west of Jinan, for a spa experience.  The resort was nicely decorated on the interior, although outside it was quite a barren landscape at this time of the year.  There is a small lake around some of the resort and some outdoor spa areas.  However, it was too cold to take advantage of those options and we couldn't really get many pictures since we had freezing fog the morning we departed.

The lobby of the TianMu resort.

Nancy waving from the bridge overlooking the inner atrium.

 

Stan checked out the "hardness" of the bed.  The Chinese prefer very hard beds.  This bed was actually a little soft, the best we have had since we arrived in China.

Since our apartment shower in Jinan is essentially non existent, a real shower is a luxury!  However, the building construction was not the best and our shower "flooded" the bathroom floor when we showered.   Good thing the floors are tile!  (They were also heated tiles...another luxury)

 We did enjoy just doing absolutely nothing for twenty four hours!  We spent a total of about 4 hours in and out of the spa pools, which varied in temperature and "features".   "Chinglish" on the signs made it difficult to discover the true meaning of each pool.  One was the "red wine pool" - but did not have a red color; one advertised rose petals and they were floating in the water; and one was called the "fruit pool", but we did not see any fruit!  Some signs indicated that a particular pool had a wood element that benefited your kidneys!  There was also a water slide that was open sporadically and the "men" in the group took advantage of being "boys".

This is the water slide.  It would be open for about a half hour and then close and then open two hours later!  This is off season so there were not many people at the resort.  We had our choice of spa pools!

 

One of the most unique experiences was paying "extra" to allow small fish to surround you in this "special" pool.  The fish supposedly do skin exfoliating.  We were all hoping to come out of the water with soft skin and no disease!

 

 Nancy, Stan, Libby Clarke, Zina and David Cox "relaxing" with the fish!

 David had a hard time with the fish tickling him.  Zina was very relaxed!

 

 Hansen (Kathy's son), Stan and Nancy, Zina and David Cox in a spa pool with no fish!

 

 It was very hard to just stay still and let them nibble at your feet and toes.  Both of us were laughing so hard it made our sides ache.  You will notice that the angle the picture was taken distorts things a bit.  Stan has lost a little weight, but those "toothpick" arms must belong to someone else. 

The spa had some interesting rules.  The pass was good for the entire day, but you had to wear these special "robes" in order to keep your pass.  So, if you wanted to eat lunch or dinner and still return to the pool at a later time, you ate in these robes.  



We were just having snacks and we were not in the restaurant at the time this was taken.  Libby Clarke in the foreground, then to the left are:  David and Zina Cox, Hansen, Nancy and Stan.  Kathy, Hansen's mom, was taking the picture.  Kathy is a Canadian citizen and was born in Jinan, China.  It was very helpful to have her tell us about the procedures at the spa and help us order food, as no one spoke English.

 

Wayne Clarke and Stan lounging and napping before returning to the pools.  These chairs are the ultimate in recliners.  We might look into getting one or two for our family room.

 

We did "dress" for dinner!

 

The next morning, we departed for Jinan via a stop in Liaocheng.  The city has a large lake in the city center with paths, historical sites, amusement attractions for children and incredible views of the city.  (We think they were incredible views of the city.  There was frozen fog that morning so it was very cold, windy and visibility very low).  In spring the place would be beautiful!

 

 You can tell we wanted to move quickly since it was so cold.  Our "guide' was in the red coat next to Kathy, our Chinese friend.  The lake is to the right of the picture.

 Stan was trying to smile in front of the two headed dragon!

 

This is a pagoda on an island on the lake.

 Guang Yue Tower was built in 1374 as a watchtower of defense for the city of Liaocheng.   It is about 120 feet in height.   There was also a wall constructed around the center of the city.

 

 The view of Liaocheng Island from the watchtower.  Many of these buildings are new and it looks like they are trying to recreate a bygone era.

 

The interior of the tower was built from surplus lumber.  The posts are all one piece of lumber from the bottom to the top.

The interior of the roof of the watchtower.

Even though there were modern skyscrapers one block away, there was still evidence of "old China".  One lady had raw meat on a table

 in the open air market.



 

This is part of the "Great Canal".  It was built for transportation many years ago and stretches through several provinces.

 

Can you believe this is a freeway in China?  Since we were away from the big city, there was not much traffic and if you didn't look at the signs in Chinese, you would think this could be in the US.

 

Following our trip to Liaocheng, we decided to explore the Jinan Zoo.

 



 Another dragon statue at the zoo.   A brisk wind meant it was necessary to bundle up for protection again.

 

 There are signs to not feed the animals, however a vendor was selling bread next to this bear enclosure.  People were also giving the bears apples, etc.  These bears are trained to beg!!

China is known for its pandas.  This is the only panda we could find at the zoo.  He was very anxious and never stopped pacing the entire 10 minutes we watched him.  Sorry for the blurry picture, but he would not pose for us!

 

 

When returning from the zoo, the Clarkes wanted to show us another mall they had discovered.  It is Wanda Plaza and very modern.  You can find Swatch, Papa John's Pizza, Pizza Hut, etc.

 

The mall has a lot of red and gold decorations in preparation for the Chinese New Year Celebration on January 31.  There are many sales since this is the time the Chinese buy new clothes and give money to children.  2014 is the Year of the Horse!

 

The artisan was in the center of the mall selling these wall decorations.  He is using a sticky syrup to make these beautiful designs.

 The finished product.  The Chinese red knot in the background is to bring good luck and cost about $100 US.