Arrived at Dingxi, Gansu

After 30 hours of arduous travel, our group of four finally arrived at Dingxi City, Gansu Province in northwest China, beginning a month-long teaching support assignment.

Not much to report yet. On the railway from Tianshui to Dingxi, I saw the Loess Plateau of northwest China for the first time — truly震撼. Layer upon层 of yellow earth, barren, with traces of abandoned terraced fields now荒芜. Occasional rivers were all muddy water. The legacy of our ancestors! Will the current Yangtze River Delta, with its GDP growth, become a second Loess Plateau in a few decades?

At noon, we met with local tourism and education bureau officials. Same nationwide: drinking! Sigh, I won’t comment further.

We’re staying at a local middle school — reasonably good conditions. From the road, it feels similar to Huangdu Town in Jiading, Shanghai. Grey-yellow is the dominant color.

More updates to follow.