A Weekend in Nanjing

We spent last weekend in Nanjing. Yangzhong is about a two hour bus ride from Nanjing and we can attend church there. We boarded the bus early Saturday morning and planned to spend the night at the motel where church is held. In the morning we took a taxi to the bus station in Yangzhong. Luckily Alan looked up some Chinese translations so we were able to communicate with the drivers. 

The Yangzhong bus station

Our bus tickets.  Can you read it?

Upon arriving in Nanjing we had take a city bus to the subway to make the rest of the way to the motel. We planned on dropping off our luggage here and checking in to a room. Thankfully there is only two lines on the subway in Nanjing, unlike Beijing where there are about ten. Before we got on the subway we made a much needed stop. McDonalds is becoming one of our favorite landmarks. It is one of the few places we've found that gives us a taste of food from home. 

The Nanjing subway map.

Breakfast of champions (americans in china)

I ate a chicken sandwich and liked it!

Jon loaded with this delicious meal!

     

McDonalds Fries!

Alan's American Cheese Burger!

      

Once lunch was finished we jumped on the metro and headed to locate the motel/church. Above are two pictures of Alan and I getting off the metro. The motel is the tall building in the background. We got checked in and decided on a plan of action for the remainder of the day then headed to find a mode of transportation. We settled on a Rickshaw. 

Can everyone say Rickshaw!  The best way to travel ever!

The Biens with our rickshaw driver

Us with our rickshaw driver at the Gate of China

After our ride with the rickshaw we explored the Gate of China. The Gate of China is the southern gate of Nanjing's City Wall. It is one of the remaining examples of the early Ming Dynasty defensive architecture. There was a wooden castle at top but was destroyed by fire. There are two courtyards which contain an archery range and vegetable gardens. There are three depots in the main gate that held provisions. 

The Gate of China

Gate of China tickets!

The outer wall of the Gate of China.  

One of many locations used to store military supplies for the wall.

Alan, Jon, and some great Chinese war leaders

Brick stairs that are probably 1500 years old

Every brick has the brick maker's name, quality,  locations, etc stamped into it.  If it failed they knew who was responsible.

Looking over the gate/entry structure at part of Nanjing

Looking along the top of the wall around Nanjing

Replica cannons.  The real ones must have been at lease twice this size.

They were the size of basket balls!

One of the many cool lanterns we've seen in china

The bridge over the mote.  Not a draw bridge anymore.

One of the three court yard areas

Some Chinese ladies siting by a cool statue

The massive entry structure with three court yards.

Us with the city of Nanjing in the background

A Buda worship area and donation pot.

Jessica doing some calculations.

A model of the entry/gate structure in it's prime.

After we toured around the gate, we located the target practice courtyard and took a stab at it. As our program leader says, slap your calves and yell. "I'm in CHINA" (its a reference to embrace the Chinese culture as they are constantly slapping their bodies to increase circulation.)

Jessica showing us how it is done. Jon learning the ropes. 

Alan trying to get an arrow to reach the target and me hunting for our next meal. 

Once we got done with target practice we headed outside of the gate in hopes to find water and ice-cream! Jessica found a mango flavored popsicle. YUMMO!

A mango ice-cream treat

Then we headed to the infamous.... Walmart in hopes to find food from home. However they are nothing like American Walmart's and the food found here is very similar to the food found in the SG market back in Yangzhong. The best part about finding Walmart is that we were able to buy real butter. We haven't been able to find any butter since we've been here. Everything is cooked or fried in grease. (it's been very hard on our stomach)

Walmart!  Yes they are in China too! 

Walmart is multiple floors!

Walmart's two shelf dairy department.  This is the first butter we've seen since arriving.

From Walmart we explored a little more around the area and made our way to the Confucius Temple for dinner. On our way there we found a import market and figured we should take advantage of it while we could. We arrived at the temple and walked around for a little bit. Then we enjoyed dinner at a hot pot restaurant. A hot pot restaurant is a family style dinner. You order a bunch of raw food and cook it in a pot on your table. The waitress brings you a hot bowl of soup broth that you decide if you want it spicy, or sort of spicy or a half and half. We picked the half and half. 

Typical Nanjing residential street

The way to the Confucius Temple 

An imported foods shop along the way.  aka heaven on earth!

The pillars that line the back of the river at the temple. 

The boats waiting to take people on rides down the cannel 

Look at the pretty lights! 

The shopping district

A trinket market down an alley with cool paper lights.

The Confucius temple roof

A "hot pot" restaurant we ate at overlooking the shopping district by the Confucius temple.

Hot pot dinner!

The next day was Sunday. We woke up and went to church. First though we went to breakfast at the motel. It was wonderful. The first breakfast in China that made us have hope for the remaining meals we will eat. We had eggs, french toast, muffins, and toast. It was amazing! After church we located a larger import market to do some food storage shopping before catching the bus back to Yangzhong.  

If your in China and dying for "real food" there is Times Grocery in Nanjing!

Here is a map of how to get to Times Grocery.  Show this to a taxi and you will be there in minutes!

When we got back we were exhausted and ready for bed. We had a great weekend and loved exploring Nanjing!