Visiting friends in Yulin!

When I was here two years ago in the south I met a girl named Sherry on the street. She and I became really good friends and stayed in touch. During our Chinese Year break I took a train with a few friends to go visit her and her family and another classmate that lives there.

Sherry's hometown is in Yulin, its far north and borders inner Mongolia and the Ordos Desert. They get a lot of sandstorms and the weather is very dry. Its a small city with
roughly 300,000 people.

Sherry and her family are originally from a little village called Wubo (north of Yulin). While in high school she moved to Yulin, then she went to the very south part of China to Kunming to go to college (and thats when I met her).

Just got off the 12hr train got to see Sherry (the one in green) for the first time in 2 years!

Sherry's mom insisted on cooking all the meals! She's an amazing cook! It was such an amazing experience getting to see her home, family, and how they live and eat everyday!

Sherry, her sister Nancy, and their little cousin (who they call little sister) who lives with Sherry's parents in Yulin-there a is better school there for her, so she attends that and sees her real parents once a month -also the most independent and rambunctious little girl! Her and I had a lot of fun together!

Streets of Yulin

Sherry and her sister Nancy

Fort

We had to walk up this to get to the Wall, it was a complete sheet of ice all the way up

This is the original city wall that was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) - which we got to walk along!

Sherry and her cousins that came and joined us for the day

There were houses built inside the wall! People lived inside the walls of the city! Amazing!

Another friend of ours, named Sky, is from Yulin. We also hung out with him and his family. They served us 'you tiao' (fried bread with date/red bean), 'millet zhou' (water and millet), veggies, and pig ears.

Pieces of the Great Wall being restored from the Qin Dynasty (221 BCE - 206 BCE)!

Huge Fort! Amazing to see parts of the Great wall!


Parts of the Great Wall being restored
All of us!

This is Red Stone Gorge- outlined with grottoes craved in ancient writing

At night walking up to the Pagoda

Inside and climbing our way up!

The ancient Pagoda

Loved getting to see Sherry, meeting her family, and seeing her hometown. Last week she had to travel down south and she stopped for the day in my city and we got to spend it together.

Later this week she's coming back through and and is staying for a few days in my home! Super excited!