Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Jade's Birthday!

Today we set off from our hotel at about 9 to take the bus to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of Xian's major tourist sights. We decided to take the bus as we haven't taken one since we left Hong Kong. We got exact change and information on bus numbers from the hotel reception then set off to find the bus stop. This wasn't as easy as we had thought. I asked someone waiting for a bus but in the meantime Paul had found a young woman with effortless English who came to our assistance. She was a Xian native who had been living and studying in San Diego for the past 5 years. We had a lovely conversation with her as she took us to the bus stop across the street. When our bus came I told the driver where we were going in Chinese and he told me our bus was across the street! So we got off the bus and told the young woman who laughed and was quite embarassed. I guess she's been away for too long.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda inside the grounds

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a huge and wonderful sight. In front of it (or behind it depending on your perspective) there is a very large open public square with a series of I don't know how many tiers of pools with fountains in them. At night there is a light and sound show and the fountains dance to the music. We are going to see that tomorrow night.

The pagoda itself is beautiful. We spent about 2 hours wandering around it. Shortly after we arrived light snow flurries began and our kids, who don't remember seeing snow falling, went crazy chasing the flakes.

Jarrah at the Peony Pagoda inside the Big Wild Goose Pagoda grounds

After seeing the pagoda we boarded another bus to see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. When we got there, however, we discovered that the admission price was twice that of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. At that point we decided that we weren't going to pay the fee so we walked back to a bus stop to take another bus back to the hotel. On our way we saw many school-aged children for about the first time in China. They were walking, some with their school bags, some carrying one school book, and since it was lunch time we believe that they were going home for lunch. The kids here have very long school days from about 7 something in the morning to about 6 at night. This is why they never seem to be around. I noticed that some of the kids wore red neckscarves as they are in the Young Pioneers, a Communist Party organisation for children.

Back at the hotel we were again accosted by the beggar children who run towards us when they see us and block our way. Today in addition to the little boy the grandma seems to have another child with her. It is so sad that she is using these children this way. I think social services needs to get involved with this family so that the children can have time to play and also get some education.

The little boy who spends all day in front of our hotel and the shopping centre opposite.

The grandma and another child.

In the evening we had a special treat. We were taken out to dinner by a couple of young women who work on the website of Travel China Guide. I've been doing English proofreading for this website for almost 3 years and when they heard I was going to be in Xian they invited me and the family to dinner. We had a fabulous banquet dinner in a lovely restaurant. It is such a treat to be involved with local people in ways such as this.

Since it was also Jade's birthday they specially ordered noodle soup for her. Long noodles signify a long life and you can see Jade's noodles are very long!


I should add more photos but it's late now and we have another busy day tomorrow. We're going to ride bikes along the city walls!