“Journey west” is the title of a popular ancient story in China, seen every day on tv.  It involves Monkey, Pig, and other characters.  We took our own journey west to Chongqing Municipality where we stayed in 2008–09.  We visited three particular people and their families.

The first was in a new district of Chongqing city, right on the Yangtze River.  The apartment complex is new, so new that few apartments are occupied.  The landscaping is excellent, especially as viewed from the 15th floor.  The apartment is exceptionally clean, modern and bright, small, but efficiently arranged.  The hosts, parents of our former student, were warm, friendly, and interested in conversation with us, as interpreted by their daughter.  This family enjoys cooking and sharing food. We had duck soup one night, and mutton soup another.  At home we had eggs for breakfast, and various tasty dishes at other times, and lots of fruit.  We were taken around the city to see the sights and shop in a market specializing in ethnic arts.

I bought a pair of linen pants with wide legs and embroidery on the front.  The effect is of a skirt.  I also bought a tiny  turtle carved from Dazu stone.  It is a stone occurring only in Chongqing. It has layers of light and dark, and the carvers use this to design the carving.  It is expensive, but I liked it.  I wanted a larger one, but they were too heavy as well as too expensive.  I also bought some earrings, typical to a special tribe in China.  The women wear lots of silver in high headdresses, necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  The ones I bought are heart shaped.  I understand that they are an alloy of silver, but they appear to be silver.  They will be a gift, because I do not wear earrings.  In another store, I bought a tiny black lacquered oval box inlaid with abalone shell flowers. What will I put in the box?  Some treasure, some memory of China, something to surprise and delight my grandchildren.

I have a collection of tiny turtles, carved from wood, jade,  stone.  Each turtle marks a special time or place, the first one, our honeymoon.  In Chinese lore, the turtle stands for longevity.  I have always liked the fact that the turtle carries his house with him—so convenient.  One year at camp I saw a sand turtle lay her eggs—they looked like opals–bury them, and then walk away into the water.  My own children are the jewels I have left behind, trusting that they will live and thrive.

In the late evening, we went up a high hill to a special place set aside for viewing the city. The buildings were all specially lit for Spring Festival, as were the roads and bridges.   It was a clear night, crisp and cold.  There is one large tree in the plaza on top of the hill, so the place is called “One Tree.”  From the plaza, we entered a building and took an elevator even higher up.  Spectacular!