Porcelain Shop

After our jaunt into the mall, we found a small outdoor mall off the beaten path. One of the shops was a porcelain shop, and the owner was very pleased to welcome us in. Bill told us later that it was exciting for him to have foreigners in his shop, as few visit the city, much less his tucked-away little spot. He served us cup after cup of Wulong tea, teaching us about how it grows and its healing qualities. He also shared his love of Chinese (specifically Shanxi) history - you could really sense his pride in his province even before Bill translated. We enjoyed looking at his collection of old coins, including a rare and valuable one from the Tang Dynasty. We were there for quite a while, and it was one of those great, unplanned experiences that make the trip so interesting.