Before the busyness of classes begins next week, we and some friends decided to take a day trip to Jilin City, a town only a 45 minute train ride from Changchun. Interestingly, Jilin is the only city in China to have the same name as it's province. It happened to be a snowstorm of a day making our trip more beautiful than expected but also a lot colder and slicker.
Chip, Mallary, Stella, Marty, & Gabe
One of the things we were most excited to see was the ice rimmed trees. Description from wikitravel: Ice-rimmed Trees, (Along Songhua River). January & February. This is a natural phenomenon which occurs when warm water from the river meets the cold winter air, forming ice crystals on the trees. The phenomenon is considered one of the four major natural wonders of China.
Seen below. . .
But not seen on our trip. Some people said the trees were cut recently, or maybe after the snow would be a better time, or come again tomorrow and see. Well, we were disappointed. We came during the right time of year, but we missed one of the four major wonders of China.
We still had fun. Stella is a bundle of energy and was thrilled about the snow. She is a Changchun native, but this was by far the best snow she'd seen all season.
Beautiful Catholic church on the Songhua river
A winter wonderland
Snow-capped Chairman Mao
Jilin has a Confucius Temple second only in size to Qufu's Confucius Temple.
Chip and his old pal Confucius
We were packed into the train station next to these two cuties. And their bird.
Monday starts our spring semester. Tomorrow we will be back to the books!
Chip, Mallary, Stella, Marty, & Gabe
One of the things we were most excited to see was the ice rimmed trees. Description from wikitravel: Ice-rimmed Trees, (Along Songhua River). January & February. This is a natural phenomenon which occurs when warm water from the river meets the cold winter air, forming ice crystals on the trees. The phenomenon is considered one of the four major natural wonders of China.
Seen below. . .
But not seen on our trip. Some people said the trees were cut recently, or maybe after the snow would be a better time, or come again tomorrow and see. Well, we were disappointed. We came during the right time of year, but we missed one of the four major wonders of China.
We still had fun. Stella is a bundle of energy and was thrilled about the snow. She is a Changchun native, but this was by far the best snow she'd seen all season.
Beautiful Catholic church on the Songhua river
A winter wonderland
Snow-capped Chairman Mao
Jilin has a Confucius Temple second only in size to Qufu's Confucius Temple.
Chip and his old pal Confucius
We were packed into the train station next to these two cuties. And their bird.
Monday starts our spring semester. Tomorrow we will be back to the books!
Very beautiful pics of snowstorm and the city! I agree, the ice rimmed trees would have been amazing, but the trip into the city looked wonderful just the same. Blessings for a great semester of learning! Prayers from afar! Or should I say home.....
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