Ningbo Part Two
Around the lake there are over 120 kiln relics. For almost every step you take, you will land upon a piece of china from at least 1000 years ago. But my treasure hunting was not going too well without the help of expert.
Host: This one looks interesting, Xiaoyao, come and take a look at the pattern on this piece.
Xiaoyao: Wow, fancy! Looks like a bird. Here, it's got a head and feathers.
Host: And a wing! Looks like a phoenix. And there鈥檚 another one! So the pattern is "two phoenix facing the sun". Fantastic! The best piece we鈥檝e got today.
Yueyao qingci experienced its peak during South and North Dynasties about 1500 years ago. Later in Song dynasty, better techniques were invented to produce colorful and finer china, qingci soon disappeared.
Nowadays, Yueyao celadon found its comeback in Ningbo with a modern touch.
Many new products were created based on traditional techniques.
Yueyao qingci had been tribute offered to the emperor in old times for its ice-and-jade-like glaze. Today with more varieties to choose from, it makes great gifts and travel souvenirs.
(Dialogue between the host and a tourist)
Host: Is it the first time you come to pick some berries here in Ningbo?
Tourist: No, last year I came too.
The best time to visit Cixi is around mid to late June because that's when yangmei matures.
Every June, Cixi will hold Yangmei festival, and visitors get to pick the freshest yangmei in the whole country.
Some tourists comment on the taste of yangmei.
Tourist 1: 鈥淰ery good!鈥
Tourist 2: 鈥淚 am sure you'll like berries very much like me.鈥
(Interview done by the host)
Host: How much red berries can we get from a tree like this?
Orchid owner: Anywhere from thirty to fifty kilograms.
Host: Hi, Philip, how much did you get?
Tourist: A full bag.
Now it鈥檚 the time to sit down and savor the exquisite taste of Yangmei. Yangmei is rich in many important nutrients such as vitamin C and protein.
Tourist: Yangmei, first you taste it, then, you Ganbei (cheers).
