China Trip--Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

Finally--Ningbo, People's Republic of China! Not at all what I expected--a very large city, much neon, tall buildings, busy streets, Starbucks--but mixed in with all of the pollution and modernization are faint remnants of a much harder life. The old men on bicycles with large amounts of luggage strapped on, the beggars in the streets, the lack of central heating (everywhere south of the Yangtzee River, and darn, it was cold while I was there).

Some interesting facts about Ningbo, courtesy of Wikipedia: Yo-Yo Ma is originally from Ningbo, Houston, Texas is a "city of friendly exchange" with Ningbo...who knew?

Arriving, this is what greeted me through the hotel shuttle window:

Not quite what China is supposed to look like, is it?

Daylight showed very crowded streets (with many no honking signs--see previous post)--

On our second day, I noticed the peaked eaves of the roof of a surprisingly oriental-looking building while driving to the courthouse, and went later that night after work to investigate--little did I know it was a huge working Buddhist temple complex. Very interesting to see, tucked in amid all the modern buildings. There are some really good photos of the details of a temple very much like this temple at www.pbase.com/henryhpk/temple_in_china, look at the gallery for Ningbo Xuedou Temple. I like the giant carved carp the best.

Food options were great! One night we ate at New Shipu Restaurant (石浦大酒店) at Tian Yi Square. Considered one of the best restaurants in Ningbo--representative artistic plates of ingredients for each dish are displayed in a portion of the restaurant, and you select the dishes you want then sit down while they are being cooked. Interesting ingredients, to say the least. I was the only non-Chinese person in the 2-story restaurant. We had a good dinner, very cheap, and watched a drunken pair of men back down when a Red Army officer was called to "handle" them. Good floor show! The symbol for this restaurant is a walking golden carp with collagen-injected lips--darn I wish a had something with the carp on it. Too funny. On our last night we went to a Szechuan restaurant basically directly across the street from the entrance to the Ningbo Sheraton (or Portman, as they call it in Ningbo--don't ask for the Sheraton 'cause they won't know what you are talking about) that TOTALLY ROCKED. Oh my...I gained 20 pounds in that place, and EVERYTHING was covered with chillis. YUM.

We still don't have a signed settlement agreement, and I've got at least 2 other infringers in Ningbo (booming place, that Ningbo) so I may get to go back and revisit my fave Szechuan spot! We'll see.