On to Shenyang

8 September – Shenyang, China

Qingdao’s new train station has a single waiting room…. that can accommodate 10,000 passengers.  It’s huuuuge.

The bullet train to Shenyang takes 8.5 hours.  Our seats were quite comfortable, and the scenery zoomed past.

Zeng met us at the station, transported us to our hotel, and shortly after took us on an extraordinary culinary tour of Shenyang.

First stop was a restaurant specializing in dumplings that has been thriving for about 150 years.  So very good under any circumstances, but especially after cargo ship food…

Next we went to a street food bazaar, with at least 100 stalls selling a mind-boggling array of seafood, quail eggs, pig brains, “irrigation sphere ball”, omelet, steamed buns, and creepy-crawlies such as scorpions, bugs, lizards, etc.  We were sorry we filled up on dumplings!

Finally we connected with a university friend of Zeng’s, Leo, at a popular spot for grilled meat.  Leo is an official with the government’s environmental agency – quite a challenging job.  (Henry enjoyed the grilled silkworms!)

Long day, full stomachs – but a great reunion with Zeng and introduction to the food of Liaoning Province.