Shibaozhai – Precious Stone Fortress

14 februari, 201622 mars, 2016 / Leya / 19 kommentarer

In the Territory of Zhongxian County of Chongqing there is a rock on the Yangtze river, with a vermilion 12-storey pavilion built against it.

No post was made on this, because I thought the weather was too bad and my shots could not give a fair picture of its beauty. Tonight I happened to find this pavilion again…and a post just had to be written. This is a beautiful piece of art – try to forget about the miserable weather conditions and just enjoy.

Built in the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), Shibaozhai consists of a gate, a pavilion and a temple.

The bridge out to the cliff is rather tricky to walk. A good advice is to walk in the middle…

…and then follow the marble reliefs.

The gate is covered with some vivid reliefs, and within the gate is the 184 feet high 12-storey wooden pavilion. It is the tallest specimen of ancient architecture with the most storeys in China. A breathtaking view when the pavilion comes in sight just around the corner.

Originally it was only nine storeys high,

but in 1956 three more (called Kuixing Pavilion) were added. A spiral staircase in the pavilion can take tourists to the top to reach the temple.

Inside the pavilion, there are steles and inscriptions of past dynasties on each floor. And on your way up, you can also admire the Yangtze River from the windows of each floor.

At least some of it…in the drizzle.

Upon arriving at the top of the pavilion, there is a flat stone dam. Here stands the ancient ‘Lanruo Temple’ at the highest point of the Precious Stone Fortress.

The so-called Rice Flowing Hole has a legend to it. According to this legend, rice flowed from the hole every day after the temple had been built. A greedy monk wanting even more rice to flow from the hole made it larger – and from that day no more rice appeared.

After the water level rose because of the Three Gorges Dam Project, millions of people had to leave their homes for ever, and the Shibaozhai too was threatened to disappear in the water. Thanks to measurements to protect the pavilion, we can still visit this masterpiece today.

Go back to the first photo again – and you will realize that the whole village beneath the pavilion is now submerged.

CFFC: Doors and Windows

15 december, 2015 / Leya / 2 kommentarer

Doors and windows for Cee – here are two examples showing windows as doors and doors as windows. I hope that counts!

– The doors are windows in the Danish trains, and the header showing the same phenomenon in China. In a Chinese garden you will find many of these round doors, looking like and working as windows as well.

Travel theme: Fabric

13 december, 201513 december, 2015 / Leya / 10 kommentarer

I believe we all love fabric, and we all go looking for them in the market and in shopping centres and…love to surround ourselves with them at home.

Thank you, Ailsa for always having lovely themes and keeping us going! Click here for more inspiration and join in yourself!

A Swedish fine tablecloth, woven and then cut, drawn together and ”embroidered” in this special way.

Chinese carpets – pure silk. Header – bedding in pure silk, China.

SL-WEEK 23: Narrow

8 december, 2015 / Leya / 7 kommentarer

For Sylvain Landry this week – Narrow.

Some weeks ago, we went down the Yangtze River on a cruiser, and had to pass the Three Gorges Dam – the biggest dam project in the world. We went through the lock during the night, but I stayed up late to touch the wall and feel the claustrofobia…

#28 Eget tema: Bergsklättring – Climbing Mountains (351/365)

29 november, 2015 / Leya / 3 kommentarer

#27 Eget tema: Förfall – Dilapidation(350/365)

29 november, 201529 november, 2015 / Leya / 2 kommentarer

Travel theme: Inspiration

29 november, 201529 november, 2015 / Leya / 7 kommentarer

Why not join in at Ailsa’s this week – we all want to be inspired! Click here to see more!

Returning from China some weeks ago, my inspiration is still centred there. Especially from Water Village (https://treetreats.wordpress.com/2015/11/21/water-village-yangtze-river-china/).

Most of all…Nature. And man made things inspired from nature.

Like Chinese silk embroidery.

#242 Reseminnen – Travel Memories (349/365)

22 november, 201523 november, 2015 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

Från min senaste resa till Kina och flodfärden på Yangtsekiang, kommer jag för alltid att bära med mig minnena från Water Village. En resa in i det gamla Kina, sinnebilden av kinesisk tradition, konst och måleri, ja även poesi. En oförglömlig vandring i en gången tid. Om du är intresserad kan du gå till hela inlägget. Klicka på länken under bilden.

From my latest trip to China and the Yangtze River, there is one memory that will never be erased – the day we visited Water Village. This day was a hike into the heart of Old China. The essence of every art form, be it painting, writing, marriage traditions… Unforgettable, true beauty.

If you want to know more, click here for the full post.