The last time Ray and I were in China was in 2018. After six years, everything in China has changed significantly from what it was before. One significant change was the introduction of a digital payment system. Most stores and services now accept payments via phone, sometimes even with a fingerprint or face recognition. This is the reason we flew to Beijing first, so my good friend Shiqui could help us transfer US dollars into a Chinese bank account and then link it to my phone. This way, I was able to make payments, shop, and even order a taxi with various apps. It was quite a learning experience for me.
From Beijing, we visited some old friends in Shandong, then took a high-speed train to Gansu Province. Gansu (in blue) is situated in the northwest of China, between Inner Mongolia and Qinghai. Gansu was on the historic Silk Road and served as a crossroads for China and Central Asia. Gansu is home to the world-famous Mogao Caves, featuring the most significant and best-preserved Buddhist cave paintings. Most of the artworks were decorated between the 4th and 14th centuries. The earliest caves were built between 419-439 CE.
From Gansu, we will travel to the two biggest cities, Chengdu and Chongqing, in the province of Sichuan. Our two good friends Yang Yang and Qiao Kay will be waiting for us. Both of them spent two years in Columbia, MO while Qiao Kai pursued his studies. I shared many American cultural experiences while they were in USA. They drove and camped around in many National parks and had very fond memories here. Now it’s their turn to show me their hometowns.
Our last week will be in Taiwan for my college reunion. It will be a short trip, but I’m looking forward to seeing all my old friends and enjoying the delicious foods I’ve been salivating over for years. Taiwan, after all, is where my childhood memories were, and when I arrive there, I always exclaim, “I am home!”