....penetrating deep into the Chinese mainland with fmly in the Golden Triangle of Shanghai , Xi'an , Beijing ,we were deeply satisfied discovering the Country on our own ....In Shanghai the population ws huge , a la India & not much of a discomfort to us ...as English is not spoken by the larger population ....Google translations & English sign boards did help us ....The Bund in Shanghai is breathtaking on the HuangPu river & a panoramic view atop the world's 2nd tallest tower The Shanghai Tower was breathtaking ....the people were mild , sober , smiling...the 14th century Yu Garden of Ming dynasty era with Budhhism vibrantly in the air ....Shanghai Museum was superb nd how related our two cultures r is evident ....with Avolokiteswara & Boddhisatvas on display nd how the early Wei , Han practises , followed by the Song , & Golden age of Tang dynasty with the later Mings , & Quings shaped the Buddhist culture with Confucianism & Taoism permanently entrenched ....I found China very close to India as I cud relate the heavy transfer of knowledge frm India thru Nalanda , Vikramshila & Taxila across the Himalayas....the Budhhist , trails , the Silk road all very much bringing the two countries together....the Swanky City of Shanghai & side by side its traditional populace....with tradition & Culture deeply imprinted ....Oriental blend of Modernity & tradition....as we were recognised easily by the masses nd people referring to us as "Indoos" & with warmth as the children posed for photographs with parents with us & Little Arnav getting so much attention....people crazy about his eyes ....!!!!....in a way we felt v much at home right at the begining of our trip.....the High speed Bullet train rides to deep interior Shanxii province with Capital Xi'an with world heritage sites Of "the Terracotta army warriors " of the Qin dynasty unearthed in 1974 was a must see for the Children ....Xi'an though was hot & sultry yet the world sites soared our spirits ....the Chinese gentry here were equally frndly the City charming with a well maintained ancient wall....the Big Wild Goose pagoda monastery of 642 AD the advent of Buddhism Monastery culture & the start point of the Silk Road frm this ancient China city of Xi'an ....pleasantly surprised to dine at "Ganges" the Indian restaurant near the wild goose pagoda ....traversing now, the 2nd side of the triangle now to Beijing by G360 Bullet Train with huge swathes of cultivable land , hills & Tunnels....the Forbidden City & Tianenmann Square , Hall of the People , the biggest Chinese Museum...here we were overwhelmed by Local Chinese people as Tourists coming frm difft parts of their country, appreciating their culture & History ....2200 yrs of uninterrupted Kingship as Chinese wud believe thr Kings came frm heaven....The forbidden city never ending layer by layer as we traverse the ages....the Temple of heaven of many a ritual of the emperors.....I cud gauge the reverence of the average Chinese towards their heritage nd how well protected thr monuments r.....in for a pleasant surprise as we were in the Jingan temple in shanghai ....wherein we discovered our very own lion Capital & Ashok chakra in display, ubiquitous Lotus an imprint how closely our Culture exchanged between India & China ....Hiuen Tsang & Fahien ....folklores in India ....the Beijing museum was exhaustive & the Lion capital & Mahabodhi temple in full glory there in Stone sculptures.....wht more cud I hv expected thn this & my mission successful in establishing a linkage of shared Culture & Heritage between the two Countries ....!!!...& finally the great Wall of China overwhelmed us frm Korea to Mongolia its extent ; our footfall nd how thrilled we were .....!!!!!
