Northeast ‘Three Man Show’

On February 21, 2005, at 18:21, a call from Liu in the Northeast ignited my craving for a ‘ski[...]

On February 21, 2005, at 18:21, a call from Liu in the Northeast ignited my craving for a ‘skiing and hot springs’ adventure. At the age of forty, with a newfound urgency to seize the moment, I was engrossed in planning our trip online. Considering the budget, I set about preparing for a ‘7-day train free trip’. However, the journey was fraught with unexpected challenges, particularly the severe shortage of train tickets in Northeast China during the ‘Spring Festival travel rush’. Fortunately, with a friend’s adept assistance, I managed to secure the tickets just two days before our departure—what luck!

On February 2, at 8:18 PM, our family of three embarked on the K188 train from Shanghai to Anshan. Our daughter found the 26-hour train journey on February 3 to be rather monotonous, but we finally arrived in Anshan at 11:30 PM. Stepping off the train, we were greeted by the warmth of ‘Northeast people’, as five individuals came to pick us up—a truly flattering welcome. We enjoyed the local ‘Korean barbecue’, which made us feel right at home, and settled into the Yu Zun Hotel for a modest 128 yuan per day.

The next day, February 4, our itinerary was packed with visits to Yufo Garden in Anshan City, Qianshan Mountain, and Longquan Hot Springs. Waking up to a snowy scene outside our window, with snow still falling, a friend jested, ‘This is a heavy snow to welcome you.’ Amidst the swirling snowflakes, we reached Yufo Garden, where the ‘world’s largest jade Buddha’ stood before us—a breathtaking sight. For a moment, I was taken aback by the sheer magnitude of the jade, which stood nearly 10 meters high and weighed approximately 260 tons.
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On the front, it was carved with Sakyamuni, as if quietly waiting in a cave, solemn and mysterious. After listening to the explanations from all sides, my feet felt a bit stiff. Friend Liu then drove us to Qianshan Mountain. With the snow having stopped, both families took plenty of photos at the foot of Qianshan Mountain. It was our first time dining on a hot kang in a farmhouse, and it was a full harvest.

In the afternoon, we visited Longquan Hot Springs and had dinner at a Northeastern restaurant. The next day, February 5th, our itinerary included the Shenyang Imperial Palace, Zhang’s Mansion, and Zhongjie Street. In the morning, we took a large bus to Shenyang, which took about 2 hours and cost 20 yuan per person. Outside the window was the long-lost world of snow. I put on sunglasses, and my eyes were filled with gray and white, like a series of prints and woodcut works, simple and cold, with a very modern feel. I guess prints and woodcuts are all from northern painters.

We stayed at Laodao Kou Building, a three-person suite for 260 yuan per day. Lunch at Daqinghua Dumpling Restaurant was 79 yuan for three people, which was good. Dinner at Li Liangui’s smoked meat pancake restaurant was 44 yuan for three people, which was quite substantial, including breakfast. The ancient and simple Shenyang Imperial Palace needs no further explanation, and its preservation for more than 300 years is astonishing. The exquisite and luxurious Zhang’s Mansion must be mentioned, as we experienced the endless charm of the young commander.

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This reformatting aims to create a more logical sequence and a smoother narrative, making it easier for readers to follow the events and experiences described.On February 6th, the itinerary included Qipanshan Ice and Snow World, Steam Locomotive Museum, Xita, and Taiyuan Street. Qipanshan, situated in the northeast corner of Shenyang, was conveniently accessible by taxi for 53 yuan. Entrance tickets were priced at 20 yuan per person, with additional costs for activities such as ice cars at 10 yuan per person, sledding at 5 yuan per person, and ice sculptures which were free of charge. Alpine skiing was available at 60 yuan per person per hour, offering a variety of activities to enjoy the ice and snow. Alpine skiing was the most thrilling activity on the agenda. With confidence from my ‘silver seven’ experience, I boarded the cable car without hesitation and ascended to the mountain’s peak. The slope, approximately 500 to 600 meters long with an irregular gradient, proved to be more challenging than anticipated. My skiing skills were not up to par, resulting in a tumble and slide for over 90% of the descent. It took 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete the course, leaving me utterly exhausted with heavy hands and feet. I inquired if the father and daughter wanted to give it a try, but they both declined. On the return journey, I lamented not hiring a coach, as it would have made the activity less taxing.

February 7th’s itinerary encompassed Beiling Park, Qing Zhaoling, and Shenyang Station. At Beiling Park, where the temperature plummeted to 16 degrees below zero, I wrapped my scarf around my head to alleviate the cold on my ears. The responsibility of taking photographs in the freezing conditions, with a camera and numb fingers, was handed over to my daughter. The guide detailed that the construction of the tombs adhered to the principle that the emperor should possess what he had in life, even in death.On the evening of February 19, 2005, XJ wrote about their experiences:

Huang Taiji’s tomb was a simple affair, consisting of just a mound of earth and a tree. Given the early establishment of the Qing Dynasty and the limited state treasury, the tomb has been well preserved. This led me to ponder: Wealth has never been eternal, and poverty is not necessarily a bad thing, is it?

On February 8th, at 3:24 PM, I embarked on the K190 train from Shenyang to Shanghai. Upon arrival in Shanghai at 6:10 PM, I enjoyed a smooth New Year’s Eve dinner. Reflecting on my trip to the Northeast, my only regret was not being able to witness the ‘Northeast Two-Man Turn’ at the ‘Liu Laogen Grand Stage’. To console myself, I dubbed my experience the ‘Northeast Three Men’s Turn’.