Linyi
After another week of intensive training, a group of students decide to spend the weekend in Linyi. I’m in, as I haven’t seen anything yet – apart from the airport – of this modern city, famous as a major trade and logitics hub. We take Didi taxis, and I stay for the first night, sharing a room with Yarra at a Hotel known for its Hot Springs.
The lobby of our Hotel is promising. It feels like entering a museum. Kaylee, who works for our school, has joined us, which makes checking in extremely easy. Yarra had booked our room through Trip.com, which includes gift vouchers for the hot springs, a calligraphy course, and a Hanfu dress-up session.
Our room is in another building, less glamorous than the main one but still good value for the price.
Linyi Guantang Hot springs
We quickly change before heading to the hot springs. It’s an interesting concept, quite different from the saunas I have visited in the Netherlands or even Austria. First there’s a huge changing room with showers and even a sauna. Helpful staff shows us the way.
Once again, we are the only foreigners. The Chinese ladies are srubbing their bodies clean, while being completely naked. Being nude doesn’t seem to be an issue. But then they put on bathing suits that cover so much of their bodies, as if they are wearing clothes! After our shower, we walk into the hot spring area.
We pass two overcrowded swimming pools full of families with children. The noise in this room is deafening! I glance at Yarra and we both decide to continue to a quieter spot. Soon we find the first hot spring area, set among lovely trees and flowers. We pick a free pool and slowly step into the 41°C water. It’s incredibly relaxing! Interestingly, there are no cold baths to cool down afterwards.
After a while, more fellow students arrive. We wander around, and I can’t get my head around the fact that Chinese people sit in the hot springs smoking cigarettes while drinking alcohol or tea ! It’s such a contrast to what I’m used too! If you aks me, it’s quite disgusting! Some students also head into the saunas. All textile saunas, which is not my thing. People are even having snacks inside the sauna. I decide, that’s definitely not for me!
Gift Vouchers
The next morning, after breakfast, we all get together and take the hotel’s shuttle service to a nearby location for our Hanfu photography session. Hanfu is the practice of dressing up in traditional clothing. People rent beautiful Hanfu costumes and stroll through ancient towns, enjoying traditional photoshoots against historic backdrops. As our hotel has given us gift vouchers, we simply have to experience it for ourselves!
Soon we all look like film stars. It’s fun to get dressed up. As we don’t pay for the full experience, make-up and hairstyling are not included. Once we’re all dressed, we stroll around the little make-believe town, creating wonderful memories. We take far more photos than necessary before we change into our normal clothes.
Back at our hotel, I get ready to take a Didi with Kaylee to check in to another hotel closer to the Ancient city, where we will spend the next day. Four other students are already waiting for us when we arrive.
Nightlife
In the evening, we all meet at a shopping mall for dinner. It’s not easy to please fourteen people with different preferences. Some are vegetarian, while others are craving beef or hot pot! Eventually, we decide that it’s best to spit up, so everybody gets what they’re in the mood for.
Danny, from London, has done some research and convinces us to visit “Heaven’s Top Roof Bar” for drinks. It’s hard to find, but definitely worth the effort! As soon as we enter the bar, I feel like a VIP. Everybody is staring at us. I guess, they have never seen so many foreigners at once. We ask for a table, and before we know it, the waiters are eagerly setting one up for us.
We tell them “No, no… we’ve eaten already. We’d just like a drink, if possible”. That’s absolutely fine, and only three of us order a drink while the rest are still deciding. Then the manager walks over carrying two huge fruit platters. “From the house” he says, with his cigarette in the corner of his mouth and his arms spread wide “Welcome, welcome!“. We are overwhelmed!
There’s karaoke going on. Chinese people come over to take photos with us. We’re even invited to sing. Eventually, one student is brave enough to give it a try. Soon Dereks voice fills the room with “Sway with me…“, and he’s celebrated like a star. We all sing and dance along. It’s hilarious!
When he returns to our table, the manager comes over again, followed by three waiters carrying two bottles of vodka, several cans of beer, and delicious skewers with prawns, beef and vegetables. “So happy” he shouts over the loud music. We all feel embarrassed, as this is far too much, and keep saying “No, no,…. thank you!” It’s a surreal and slightly uncomfortable situation, but at the same time, we are all deeply grateful for his generosity.
Ancient City
Langya Ancient City of Linyi, like many others in China, is not an authentic ancient city. It reminds me of a film set. We pay the entrance fee, which includes a ticket to a live performance. Performances are a big part of Chinese culture. One of my fellow students has already seen this show twice and highly recommends it. She is even going for a third time! That convinces me.
Soon our group naturally splits up. Some crave something sweet, while others head off to photgraph the waterfalls. We all experience this fully immersive cultural park, celebrating Qin, Han and Wei-Jin history in our own way. The impressive Langya Pavilion dominates the skyline, and there’s also an Intangible Heritage street showcasing traditional crafts. After sunset, lantern-lit alleys lined with ancient-style food stalls serving local Linyi delicacies, make it almost impossible to decide what to eat.
Guoxiu Langya Performance
Our 198 RMB ticket, which is valid for three days, includes admission to the Guoxiu Langya live performance, starting at 2.30 p.m. The queue in front of the theatre is huge, but we manage to find our seats just in time.
Guoxiu Langya is a large-scale indoor immersive theatrical production that tells the story of more than 3,000 years of Linyi’s history and culture through six acts. It combines skillful actors, real animals, spectacular special effects, projections, and impressive stage technology.
From the very first moment, I am in awe. Performers rappel down (abseilen) the side walls, real waterfalls cascade across the stage, and shimmering curtains of water create breathtaking scenes. Horses, goats and birds are all part of the performance, althoug I have mixed feelings about the use of live animals.
I have never been to a “Cirque du Soleil” show, but I imagene this comes pretty close. Acrobatics, ballet, martial arts – you name it, it’s here! At one point, enormous buildings seem to rise up between the rows where we, the spectators, are seated, making us feel as though we have become part of the story ourselves.
Satisfied and deeply impressed, we leave the theatre about two and a half hours later. We continue strolling through the ancient city, talking about the performance for hours afterwards.
Hanfu Dressing-up
The next day, Kaylee and I wake up early. It’s her 25th birthday, so I sing “Happy Birthday“, while handing her a little present – a necklace, I once made during my stay in Bagsu, Nepal. She is surprised and grateful. We enjoy a tasty breakfast at a local restaurant next door before heading back to Langya Ancient City. Today, she is having a Hanfu photoshoot and can’t wait to get to the shop where she has already chosen her outfit.
Meanwhile, a pretty shop assistent is doing her hair and make-up, I stroll through a part of the ancient city I haven’t explored yet. Impressed by the bronze statues despicting traditional handicrafts, I eventually arrive at an area that recreates scenes from time of war. Several small performances are taking place on little stages, all free of charge.
When I return to the Hanfu shop, I hardly recognize Kaylee. She looks absoluteley stunning, like the prettiest elf from a fairy tale! Most importantly, she is clearly delighted with the result. Together we search for picturesque spots to capture beautiful photos before we reuniting with our fellow students.
Birthday Party
Kaylee is the kind of person you simply have to LOVE. At just twenty-five years old, she is a source of wisdom, kindness and a true inspiration. Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy is simply not the same without her! Her Mandarin classes are both witty and engaging, and every evening she makes an effort to wish each of us “Goodnight” in our own native language! We can’t help but admire her.
After a morning of Hanfu photography, we all meet at a fancy restaurant just outside the South gate of the ancient city. Derek arrives carrying an elaborate birthday cake decorated with real roses. It is a true work of art! Others bring sweets and snacks, and soon all sixteen of us are gathered around one large table.
We share delicious food, laughter, and wonderful conversations. One by one, each of us tells Kaylee what she means to us and how much we appreciate her. It is a warm, heartfelt, and unforgettable celebration. It feels wonderful to put Kaylee in the spotlights for once.
