Cina Day Five (continued)

Last night's performance was at the Shaanxi Grand Opera House.

Let's just say that tonight was the night when I needed the sense of humour that I was told to pack alongside travel adapter's and immodium....

Panpipes?? Trumpet solos by a man doing duck impressions?? Pur-lease ....

Luckily the remaining acts were very sweet national dance, one or two of which were very nice to watch. An interesting insight into the historical importance of music and dance ... but panpipes?? And unfortunately my guide reappeared just as my eyes had closed at one point - ooops.

"Entertainment" followed by the dumpling feast, and feast it was.

I have never seen so many different types of dumplings, nor had to eat so many! I had been told in the car about a legend where one of the emperors had loved one of his concubines so much he wanted different dumplings created to please her, in the shapes of animals and vegetables etc. I thought it was a legend until last night I ate dumplings in the shapes of goldfish, chickens, ducks, pumpkins, walnuts - and they really did look like them! None of the usual chinese artistic merit needed last night.

Anyway having eaten (what I felt was sufficient) I told my guide I was full - she had already eaten and was just watching me eat to keep me company, bless her - she looked physically pained and told me I still had 2 courses to go!

Luckily they consisted of dumpling soup and watermelon so I could squeeze some in but I could hardly move afterwards. The number of dumplings in your soup will wish you luck, happiness or money and they are the tiniest cutest dumplings you could imagine, smaller than my little fingernail. I had 3 which means everlasting happiness (I think!).

Anyway home to bed, dreaming of dumplings!

Transfer to Xian airport this morning for another internal flight to Guilin.