ANSHAN

I ARRIVED IN ANSHAN IN JUNE 2008. I HAD ANOTHER INVITATION FROM A WONDERFUL LADY TO SEE HER THERE WHERE SHE LIVES. IT WAS ONLY A SHORT FLIGHT FROM BEIJING. I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. I HEARD THAT ANSHAN WAS A MANUFACTURING CITY- I EXPECTED A NOT SO CLEAN PLACE WITH LOTS OF SMOKE AND FACTORIES- I WAS REALLY  PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. ANSHAN IS A MEDIUM SIZED CHINESE CITY WITH BEAUTIFUL STREETS AND PUBLIC PARKS. IT IS EXTREMELY CLEAN.

MY LADY MET ME AT THE AIRPORT. WHILE IN ANSHAN- WE ENLISTED A INTERPRETER FROM THE AGENCY AS MY FRIEND HARDLY SPOKE ANY ENGLISH.
OUR GUIDE WAS WONDERFUL AND SHE MADE  COMMUNICATION SO MUCH EASIER.

DURING OUR STAY IN ANSHAN- WE WENT TO A NUMBER OF WONDERFUL PLACES- BUT

ONE PLACE THAT STANDS OUT WAS THE TEMPLE OF THE JADE BUDDHA. THIS BUDDHIST TEMPLE HOUSES ONE OF THE LARGEST STATUES OF THE BUDDHA IN THE WORLD. IT IS AROUND 8 METERS HIGH, WEIGHS AROUND 260 TONS AND IS MADE OF GREEN JADE. I WAS DEEPLY IMPRESSED BY THE BEAUTY OF IT. A PHOTO IS SHOWN ABOVE
THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE BUDDHA IS 33 METERS TALL- REPRESENTING THE 33 LAYERS OF HEAVEN IN BUDDHISM.

MY LADY FRIEND AND I SAID PRAYERS AT THE INSIDE OF THE TEMPLE GROUNDS. IT WAS A VERY MOVING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. IF YOU ARE IN ANSHAN- YOU MUST VISIT THIS SACRED PLACE- A VERY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE INDEED.

ANSHAN HAS WONDERFUL SCENERY. THERE ARE MOUNTAINS NOT FAR FROM THE CITY ACCESSIBLE BY BUS. WE DID NOT GO TO THE MOUNTAINS BECAUSE IT WAS JUNE AND THE WEATHER WAS HOT. I TOOK A RAINCHECK- MAYBE SOON.