JiuZhai Gou

Most people here say that JiuZhai Gou is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is known for its mirror lakes and waterfalls.  It was spectacular!  Every time we see such magnificent beauty in creation, we question how people do not see that there must be a Creator.  Eyes and hearts are closed and only He can open them, we know this.  So, as we walked and took in this truly beautiful site, we were reminded to sing His praises and earnestly pray for those we walked alongside.

Being raised in the beautiful foliage of the Appalachian Mountains I felt right at home here.  While in JiuZhai Gou we stayed in a Tibetan families home.  This home is very self sustaining.  All food that they prepared for us was grown there aside from the meat.

 The round things on the bottom are bee hives.

 Dinner that night was fantastic.  Since living here, Tibetan food has been one of my favorites.  It is a lot like soul food for me - meat and potatoes.

 The next morning we had a delicious breakfast.

 We've tried yak butter tea before but this tea was off the hook!

Breakfast was eggs with this delicious bread that we covered with honey from their hives - fresh, unpasteurized honey, where have you been all my life??

 Our hosts were impressed by Ian's appetite.  The boy could throw down some Tibetan food and tea.  He and Aili asked if we could live there. :)

 Our host let us try some cherries.  They were incredibly bitter but Aili enjoyed them.

 Aren't these leaves just amazing??

After breakfast we rode horses around the village. 

 I believe there are 700 families in this particular village.

Mid way through the ride they took us to the top of a hill and asked us to throw prayer paper into the wind so that the mountain god would be appeased.  We explained that as Christians could not but would pray and ask our God to bless them.  They said they understood but they were old and asked us to do it for them.  Again, we politely refused explaining we only worship the most high God and could not do this.  We could tell they were a bit frustrated. This religion is very dark.  Inviting spirits to come inside them, knowing it is demonic possession.  Such heaviness we felt up on this mountain.  

 Shortly after not agreeing to appease the mountain god we were asked to walk home. It was a lovely walk breathing fresh air and we thought it super sweet that the man held Mei's hand to help her down the steep hill.

 After returning we went directly to JiuZhai Gou National Park.

 This waterfall was soo wide.  The leaves had so much radiance, it was all almost overwhelming to our senses.

 We thought this sign was funny.  Ian asked how we'd know if a rock was falling.  I think that was why you are not supposed to stop, but it was pretty crowded so sometimes you just had to stop.

The "mirror lakes" that JZG is famous for...  The colors, the blue sky, the clean air.... It was here that we realized we are city dwellers and while it is fun and we are enjoying being where we are supposed to be, we miss the country.  Well, we really miss clean air and blue skies.  It really didn't seem like we were in China. Definitely not the China that most people now live in.

 The water is so clear - you see all the trees on the bottom yet the reflection from the trees and mountains above all at the same time.

 More lovely waterfalls.

So thankful we were able to visit during our favorite season.  However, this was the exit - reminded me of Disney after the fireworks. :)

Our kids were troopers for the most part.  This had been a physically exhausting trip, but they did great!  Meisi's little legs were so tired but her big brother did what he could to help her out.  I just Love these precious gifts the Lord has given us. 

After all the walking, we had the most amazing dinner.  Tibetan food of course. :)

The next day we had another delicious breakfast at the home where we were staying then headed out. 

  

 Outside the home we stayed were prayer wheels.  We were told that inside each of these wheels are prayers written very small, then stuffed in to fill each wheel.  They believe for every spin they give the wheel the number of prayers written inside is said.  My heart aches experiencing the darkness here.  This family is precious and so kind.  Asking our Father who is the most powerful to rescue them.

After saying goodbyes, we drove two hours back to Songpan, this time I snapped some pictures of part of the wall that used to surround the city.  Most of these in China have been refurbished but parts of this one you could still see the original wall.  

Just before leaving Songpan we saw these guys washing out yak stomach in the river.  

So many interesting things.  Thankful for each experience and opportunity to be light but wow were our senses overloaded, our mind full, our hearts broken and our legs tired.