Tongchuan Aston
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Tongchuan is a small city in the northern part of Shaanxi Province 180 km north of the ancient capital of Xi’an. Shaanxi tradition is strong here and life moves at a slow pace which is much more in rhythm with the countryside than modern cities.
This is a place that is for the most part untouched by foreign influence. There are no Western restaurants or familiar chain stores. Life in Tongchuan allows Aston teachers an opportunity to experience life on the fringes of China’s vast countryside and a rare chance to live among these wonderful people. Before Aston opened in this unlikely of places most of the locals had never seen a foreign face. Looks of astonishment quickly turn into warm receptions as the days pass on in Tongchuan, and many an evening is spent with the local families as guests in their homes.
The center of town is the square which is usually a buzz of activities; in the morning you can see people gathering and practicing Tai Chi and traditional Chinese dancing, at night time there are often performances on an erected stage, performances from Kung Fu to ballroom dancing to traditional Chinese Opera, an amazing sight to behold lost to the urban centers of the country. Markets abound throughout the town at all hours with countless makeshift shops and carts selling handicrafts, produce, and Shaanxi snack foods. A giant Farmer’s Market sets up just outside of town which brings thousands of people together from the countryside of Northern Shaanxi to exchange goods and gossip. As your language skills develop while living here these become fascinating anecdotes into the situation and custom of rural Chinese.
Also nearby is the Yuawa Gong. This is a famous place from ancient Chinese history where Emperors used to come and rest in the summer months. It is a fabulous temple and archeological site travelers come to visit as they pass through the other surrounding sites of the province. The mountainous area doubles as a ski resort in the winter months.
The other sites around Shaanxi Province are world famous and easily accessible from Tongchuan. Xi’an is about 2 hours by bus to the south, less by taxi which is cheap and the way teachers usually travel to the capital. Yan’an is 3 hours away. From Xi’an you have access to the rail network and some of the most diverse and interesting destinations in China. Lanzhou, Yinchuan, Zhengzhou, and Taiyuan are all easy overnight trains away. Cheap daily flights go down into Sichuan to Chengdu and Chongqing often for as low as $30 and taking little more than an hour.
The weather is a four season continental climate and is for the most part dry. Summers do see a bit of rain, and spectacular thunderstorms, with relatively mild temperatures. Winter brings freezing temperatures and a sprinkling of snow with clear blue skies. Spring and autumn are long, pleasant, and dry.