Post by Ruth on Jun 8, 2005 21:38:44 GMT 7
Xingcheng is lovely. Or muddy, dirty, litter strewn and small townish, depending on your perspective. It does boast a strategic position on the north/south battle marches of old, so has an ancient city in the center of town. This city is fortified with four high walls, each with a gate. You can walk around the top of the walls, climb up the drum/bell tower in the center of the old city, or meander through the streets and shops. The back streets are like the hutong areas in Beijing. There's a Confucious Temple there, too, with lovely gardens and his life story told in etched pictures all along one wall. Awesome art work. We have a mountain to climb (okay, big hill). On the top of the mountain is a signal tower where they used to light fires to signal to the guards in the old city. The views are fabulous in all directions. The sea is to the east. At the seaside you can swim, climb rocks, rent a paddle boat, or walk out on the bridges to the pagoda for a view back to the seashore. There are three good beaches in the area. You can take a ferry to the island (40 minute ride). The island has several small villages, a couple of temples, an octagonal well, beautiful scenery and cheap seafood. That's enough tourist guide stuff for now.