Shaanxi Dong
Shaanxi Dong is a Daoist park just minutes outside of Ankang. This past Saturday we five foreign teachers (In the picture: me, Ulla, Debra, Nick and Justin ) squeezed into a taxi and headed out for an afternoon of explorating. I had been to Shaanxi Dong 2-3 times last spring term but not yet this fall term. And even after this visit there are still paths I have not hiked.



We had barely set foot in the park, had just looked into two small shrines, when we met some students from Ankang Technology School. They were friendly and curious to spend some time with us. Meetings like this are always an occasion for photos.




A visit to Shaanxi Dong must include a climb to the top of the highest hill to see the large, newly constructed, main temple. Three large ornately painted statues adorn the center of the one inside room. Fruit and other offerings are placed at their bases. Cushions on the cement floor protect the knees of the devout as they pay homage. And homage is expected. The students with us were chastised for not clasping folded hands and bowing. But still they didn't. We foreigners were left alone this time...lost causes, I guess. The walls are covered with beautiful murals of LaoZi's life. Yin-yang circles decorate the ceiling. Recorded temple music fills the air. Various sizes of incense sticks are for sell at the entrance. (No photos are allowed inside.)


After the students left, we took a few minutes to rest in front of the smaller temple, the one built in a more ancient time but renovated since then. The woman working there had a coal burning heater and a cat. Both attracted our attention. A pleasant ambiance filled the courtyard. I especially enjoyed the feeling of fall.. ...something I've been waiting for and just last week spotted in Ankang. Fall was in the fog, in the trees and in the crisp chill at Shaanxi Dong.







Coming down from the two temples required descending these 137 steps. Of course these weren't the only steps we climbed that afternoon. The park is in the hills and full of steps. No, nothing like HuaShan but still there were plenty to keep us warm on our brisk December day.



Once again we all enjoyed and commented on the quiet and the peacefulness of being out of the city. It was nice to be able to stare into the distance and see only mountains and trees. And to shuffle our feet through the fallen leaves beneath a canopy of tree branches. I spotted a pair of birds with foot-long tail feathers that I would swear, except this was December, were building a nest. After hiking out to a small dam blocking the flow of a stream to build this body of water and enjoying the scenery there, we headed into town for some dinner. I'm guessing we all rested well that night. Nothing like traipsing for several hours through forest covering hill and dale to induce a good sleep.