Day 1:
Surrounded by Xizhou’s renowned agricultural fields, you wake up in the Linden Centre to the sound of chirping birds and crowing roosters. After reluctantly crawling out of bed, you head down to the Linden Centre dining area for a bite to eat. After you satisfy your stomach, you stroll out to explore Xizhou. When you reach the entrance of the Linden Centre, turn left and walk past the row of fields. Keep walking forwards, until you catch sight of a small crack in a waist tall wall on your left. Take a moment to recognize that you are now standing in the most dangerous intersection of Xizhou, and then continue walking. When you reach a square surrounded by shops and vendors, you are now in Sifang Jie (SFJ), the unofficial town square of Xizhou. Now that you know where the center of Xizhou is, feel free to wander around town. Take note of the old architecture of the houses around you. The Bai culture is very unique, even within China itself. Featuring curling roofs, spacious courtyards, and intricate designs painstakingly carved into the wood centuries before, every single ancient house here is truly a sight to behold. While you wander around town, take in the unblemished blue sky and the unhurried pace of life here.
As noon ticks closer and closer, succumb to your growling stomach and walk from wherever you are at the moment back to Sifang Jie. Head over to a cozy shop nestled between other shops, and sit down at Old Town Snacks. Now that you are here, you have two options presented before you that are a must-have in Old Town Snacks. Firstly, you can choose what the locals order; rice covered with a topping of choice (盖饭, gài fàn). The rice covered in potato strips and meat is a choice that you cannot go wrong with, while the mapo tofu is a great choice for those who love and can take spicy food. Your second option is Tafel Fried Rice, something exclusively known to Microcampus students. Tafel Fried Rice originated when Craig Tafel and the chefs of Old Town Snacks got together with a mission to create a distinctive fried rice in Sifang Jie. When you have eaten your fill, visit the Xizhou Baba shop located right next to the antique shop. It is called 杨顺宝喜洲粑粑(yáng shùn bǎo xǐ zhōu bā bā) Xizhou Baba, perhaps the most famed snack of Xizhou, is a piece of dough deep-fried in lard or oil. Your starting mouthful will either be sweet or salty; depending on which Baba you chose to take. The sweet Baba contains a red bean paste mixed with rose flavoring, which sounds peculiar until you actually take a bite and just have an “mhmm” moment. As for the salty Baba, it is stuffed with meat, spring onions, chives, and maybe eggs in the Muslim version.
When your insides feel all warm and nice from the Baba, take time to check out the shops located around Sifang Jie. Do not feel overwhelmed by the choices as most shops actually sell similar items. When you are done, walk back to the Linden Centre with arms overflowing with tie dyed clothing items, embroidered purses and pillow cases, and key chains of various miniature Chinese items.
Your next stop gives you an inside look on how the popular Xizhou cheese (rushan) is made. Walk through the crack in the wall on the most dangerous intersection of Xizhou, and continue forwards until you come upon a large stone arch. Saunter in, and turn into the local cheese factory. Here you will find large sticks with white, dough like substance hanging from the strings attached to the walls. What are they, you wonder? Go up to owner of the cheese factory, and she will explain that those large sticks are wrapped with cooked milk, and are being hung up to dry. If you fancy it, you can ask the women (Mrs. Zhang) to cook you some grilled cheese. Exit the cheese factory satisfied with what you have seen and learned, and head to your next destination.
The destination in question is the rice noodle factory, which provides you with insight on the unique way of making ersi (a type of noodle you will get to sample later). Stand on the side and watch quietly while the ladies of the factory put rice in the grinder over and over, until it becomes a fine, chewy paste. If you make small talk and ask politely, the makers will offer you a small chunk of the chewy paste, which tastes very plain unless you put sauce on it. Nevertheless, appreciate the kind gesture and the chance to experience this freshly made.
Lastly, visit a shop located near the cheese factory named Happy Embroidery. As you walk into the courtyard-styled shop, you will see many baskets containing silk woven into tight little balls by the silkworms. You can go inspect the wooden chairs and tables holding half finished works of art on them. Then, buy 1 or 2 designs that you like, thank the shopkeeper (Mrs. Li), then be on your merry way.
After a tiring day visiting many shops and factories, drag you and your weary feet back to Sifang Jie, where you will be having dinner. Tonight, you will be eating in the most formal restaurant of Xizhou, the Golden Flower. Mr. Yang, who is an open and friendly person, owns the Golden Flower. Collapse onto one of the chairs, and order egg fried rice, partially so that you can have a fulfilling meal, and also partially so that you can have a “been there, done that” moment about fried rice in China. Finish up your meal, have a friendly chat with Mr. Yang, then head back to the Linden Centre.
Back in the Linden Centre, you feel exhausted, but there is one more activity planned for you. Head up to the terrace, and be mind blown by the endless stretch of fields in front of you. The fields however, are not the reason you are here. Shut your eyes, and then gaze up to the boundless night sky before you, filled with the twinkling of stars. Relish this sight, as there are not many places in China where you can still see the light of stars a million miles away. Let this conclude your day. Drag yourself back into your warm, soft bed, and let sleep overcome you.
As noon ticks closer and closer, succumb to your growling stomach and walk from wherever you are at the moment back to Sifang Jie. Head over to a cozy shop nestled between other shops, and sit down at Old Town Snacks. Now that you are here, you have two options presented before you that are a must-have in Old Town Snacks. Firstly, you can choose what the locals order; rice covered with a topping of choice (盖饭, gài fàn). The rice covered in potato strips and meat is a choice that you cannot go wrong with, while the mapo tofu is a great choice for those who love and can take spicy food. Your second option is Tafel Fried Rice, something exclusively known to Microcampus students. Tafel Fried Rice originated when Craig Tafel and the chefs of Old Town Snacks got together with a mission to create a distinctive fried rice in Sifang Jie. When you have eaten your fill, visit the Xizhou Baba shop located right next to the antique shop. It is called 杨顺宝喜洲粑粑(yáng shùn bǎo xǐ zhōu bā bā) Xizhou Baba, perhaps the most famed snack of Xizhou, is a piece of dough deep-fried in lard or oil. Your starting mouthful will either be sweet or salty; depending on which Baba you chose to take. The sweet Baba contains a red bean paste mixed with rose flavoring, which sounds peculiar until you actually take a bite and just have an “mhmm” moment. As for the salty Baba, it is stuffed with meat, spring onions, chives, and maybe eggs in the Muslim version.
When your insides feel all warm and nice from the Baba, take time to check out the shops located around Sifang Jie. Do not feel overwhelmed by the choices as most shops actually sell similar items. When you are done, walk back to the Linden Centre with arms overflowing with tie dyed clothing items, embroidered purses and pillow cases, and key chains of various miniature Chinese items.
Your next stop gives you an inside look on how the popular Xizhou cheese (rushan) is made. Walk through the crack in the wall on the most dangerous intersection of Xizhou, and continue forwards until you come upon a large stone arch. Saunter in, and turn into the local cheese factory. Here you will find large sticks with white, dough like substance hanging from the strings attached to the walls. What are they, you wonder? Go up to owner of the cheese factory, and she will explain that those large sticks are wrapped with cooked milk, and are being hung up to dry. If you fancy it, you can ask the women (Mrs. Zhang) to cook you some grilled cheese. Exit the cheese factory satisfied with what you have seen and learned, and head to your next destination.
The destination in question is the rice noodle factory, which provides you with insight on the unique way of making ersi (a type of noodle you will get to sample later). Stand on the side and watch quietly while the ladies of the factory put rice in the grinder over and over, until it becomes a fine, chewy paste. If you make small talk and ask politely, the makers will offer you a small chunk of the chewy paste, which tastes very plain unless you put sauce on it. Nevertheless, appreciate the kind gesture and the chance to experience this freshly made.
Lastly, visit a shop located near the cheese factory named Happy Embroidery. As you walk into the courtyard-styled shop, you will see many baskets containing silk woven into tight little balls by the silkworms. You can go inspect the wooden chairs and tables holding half finished works of art on them. Then, buy 1 or 2 designs that you like, thank the shopkeeper (Mrs. Li), then be on your merry way.
After a tiring day visiting many shops and factories, drag you and your weary feet back to Sifang Jie, where you will be having dinner. Tonight, you will be eating in the most formal restaurant of Xizhou, the Golden Flower. Mr. Yang, who is an open and friendly person, owns the Golden Flower. Collapse onto one of the chairs, and order egg fried rice, partially so that you can have a fulfilling meal, and also partially so that you can have a “been there, done that” moment about fried rice in China. Finish up your meal, have a friendly chat with Mr. Yang, then head back to the Linden Centre.
Back in the Linden Centre, you feel exhausted, but there is one more activity planned for you. Head up to the terrace, and be mind blown by the endless stretch of fields in front of you. The fields however, are not the reason you are here. Shut your eyes, and then gaze up to the boundless night sky before you, filled with the twinkling of stars. Relish this sight, as there are not many places in China where you can still see the light of stars a million miles away. Let this conclude your day. Drag yourself back into your warm, soft bed, and let sleep overcome you.