Typhoon

We’re scheduled to fly into Shanghai tomorrow, after seeing the Terra Cotta Soldiers, but I’m guessing there is about a 50% chance that our flight will be canceled.  Typhoon Wipha, which is expected to be the worst hurricane to hit China in over 50 year, is due to hit Shanghai tomorrow, probably around the time that our flight arrives, and I can’t think of any worse time to try landing an airplane than in the middle of a hurricane.  So I’m pretty worried.  I hope the airlines have better sense than to try landing in dangerous conditions.  They’ve already evacuated 200,000 people from the path of the storm.
We’re currently in Xi’an, the ancient capital of China (before the Mongols moved the capital to Beijing).  We’ve been here for the last day or so, and have visited Hua Shan (Flower Mountain), which has some absolutely gorgeous scenery.  We also went to a lacquer factory, where my mom bought me a beautiful jade dragon horse that I had been lusting after.  It’s simply gorgeous – translucent green jade, well-carved.  You see a lot of mediocre carved jade in China, but this is well-crafted.  I’m glad I have it.  I’ll post photos later.

Mike and I also bought a gorgeous tiger painting – pix later, once I get back to the States and can photograph it properly.

We’re on a tight schedule, so that’s it for now – more later, I hope!