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Website links to
Beifan Associates
Dazu Homepage.
Places to go and see.
Beifan.com
Metcn8.com.
Beifanchina.com.
Chinadan.com
Photos of Dragons.
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On Open Road To Dazu Grottoes; Chinese Restaurant Lunch With Red Hot Chilli Pepper Fish.
We left Chongqing in our luxury tourist coach and two guides to join the open road to Dazu, where we were to visit the Dazu Grottoes, staying for one night only in a Guest House. The road from Chongqing to Dazu was almost deserted for most of the time, except for the people walking on the sides of the road. As soon as our coach driver spotted a pedestrian, he would start making good use of the horn. If there was a cyclist or a lorry on the Dazu road, or a coach on its way back to Chongqing, his hand would reach for the horn. Different countries have different customs! The long winding road to Dazu presented an insight into the lifestyle of people in the countryside. I think the people were used to coaches taking 'foreigners' to visit the Buddhist Cave Sculptures at Dazu, as they seldom were inclined to stop and stare at the passing coaches. The exception was when the coach stopped at a site of interest, such as the location of stone-crushing, which seemed to be a communal venture.
Another stop we made during the journey was at a roadside restaurant in a small town. We crowded into our alloted space in the restaurant looking forward to our lunch, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Different dishes were brought to our table which went down well, then a large whole cooked fish on a platter was set on the table. It was well presented and looked delicious with its crispy skin, a piece of which I picked up with my chopsticks and placed in my mouth. As soon as my mouth closed on the morsel, my tastebuds seemed to burst into flame, and I hastily grabbed for water to try and reduce the affects of.................. red hot chillli pepper. We were of course in the Province of Sichuan, where I feel sure, very young children born and bred there, would have no problem in consuming these balls of fire. I did survive the experience to continue the journey to the Dazu Grottoes!
Dazu Grottoes, Cave Sculptures With Buddha Entering Nirvana.
 As soon as we got down from the coach at Baoding Hill, which was about 15 Kms from the town of Dazu, we were approached by local people holding out postcards and other mementoes, that they were trying to sell. Some of them were young children who were learning their part in the tourist trade quite young. We walked from the coach park down a hill lined with trees, then found ourselves on the side of a valley, on the opposite side of which, bathed in sunlight, was the rock sculptured form of the reclining Buddha entering nirvana, attended by his Disciples and representatives of his followers, and scenes of country life i.e herdsmen and buffalos.
Crossing the valley, we stood in front of the Reclining Buddha, and were more able to appreciate the work and dedication of the artistic masons who turned the rock face into a form of Buddhist Shrine. There was a sense of peacefulness by the Dazu Grottoes, a feeling that the Buddha was not there as a symbol, to be worshiped like a god, but rather as a guide to lead the way during one's time in this world.
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