West Lake

The photo was taken on the trail of mountain, which makes it possible to overlook the lake, city and campus. We usually started hiking from the bottom of the mountain, arrived at the peak, and enjoyed the scenery.

This one was taken in a different place, on the one of three levees. One side of lake are high buildings, and the other side of lake are resorts, mountains, and an arboretum. Three are three small islands in the center of lake.

Hangzhou-My Next Station

Have you heard of Hangzhou? If not, it is okay. Maybe you know Shanghai where the Women's World Cup is being held. People often say that Shanghai is a metropolitan and Hangzhou is its backyard. And this backyard, Hangzhou, what is it look like? I am going to show you.

Hangzhou is famous for West Lake and its scenery. It is also a historical city, used to be capitals of several dynasties. I have been lived for three years and taken many photos. When I go through those pictures, pleasant memories may be picked up.

Nomad's Houses

In response to Stuttfótur, I tried to find sth interesting in my pictures files. Finally two more about nomad's houses. Nomad live on the meadow depend on animal husbandry. If you click the picture, you will see the place where they are living. The above picture shows the houses which must belong to miniorities, such as Mongolians or Kazaks. They are excellent horse riders. This one shows animal corral, maybe sheep corral or cattle stall, made of log and lumber.

The Moon Festival

Today is the Moon Festival, one of the most important festivals in China. The Moon Festival is Auguest 15 based on the lunar calander, a full moon day.

On this day family members would get together, like American Thansgiving Day. Sons and daughters working away from home hope reunions with parents and would like to celebrate this festival together . Usually moon cakes are prepared to eat. Round-shaped fruits are popular, such as apples and water melons. These round-shaped things are set on the table in the moon light, indicating a happy family. Family sit outside and chat on the porch while viewing this fullest and brightest moon.

Nanati Grassland

Nanati Grassland is located in the west of Xinjiang, bodering several foreign countries. I have to say I have never been to Nanati Grassland, even though I was born in Xinjiang. My friend invited me to visit there by sending me these amazing pictures. It is a wonder, an oasis in the desert.

Unfortunately I didn't take many photos when I was leaving for USA. These are "borrowed" from my friend. Maybe the end of my hometown show.

"Portraits"-Cotton

The cotton has been picked up, so a few bolloming bolls remain on the stalks. Their leaves are pretty dry, since farmers usually stop irrigating the fields in Auguest and get bolls open ealier, before snow comes down.

My Friend' Story

I haven't done postings for a few days. You may know what I am going to say. Yes, sure, some excuses. I am going to tell you my friend's story. That's a lesson.

He is good at badminton. No doubt he plays a lot. The second day after he arrived at State College, he went to a badminton club. One week after the arrival he got his right knee hurt, fracturing the kneecap. He has done this kind of thing twice. Several years ago he injured his left kneecap and had a reconstruction surgery.

This time his condition was more severe. The doctor not only repaired his kneecap, but also replaced muscle for a torn ligament. The pain after surgery was so unbearable to him that he called police and emergency.

What I want to say is to do appropriate amount of exercise and keep us healthy. We all know proper exercise can bring us healthy bodies, but surpassing that limit would hurt us.

Manas County

The place where I was born has the same name with a poem, called the Epic of Manas. This poem is a traditional epic poem of Kyrgzy people.

To my surprise, wikipedia provides brief introductionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manas_County..

Cotton Field In My Village

This is a typical cotton field in the fall. In the harvest season, Sept. and Oct. it is common that farmers work from 8 AM to 8 PM in these cotton fields. All the work needs to be done by hands. Picking cotton is not like picking apples. Farmers have to bend their waists.

All cotton bolls don't open at a time. When you finish picking at one end of the field, cotton bolls at the other end open again. That's why you see white cotton in one area but empty bolls in another area.

Geographic Location-Xinjiang

This map may help you know where I came from.(cited from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinjiang It acounts roughly one sixth of territory of China, bordering Mongolia in the northeast; Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghiszstan, and Tadzhikistan in the west; and Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India in the southwest.

My Hometown-Xinjiang

This is the scenery that I took through the window of the train. It needs at least 10 hours to travel across the endless area. This is only one part of my hometown-Xinjiang, located in the northweat of China.
It looks like a barren field, but abundant crude oil is buried underneath.
Also snow water is introduced into oasis where people live. September is the harvest season for cotton, corn, and sunflower.