Tablets and Mosques

 After a lovely lunch, we headed to the Forest of Stone Tablets Museum where thousands of etched stone tablets were displayed.  A large room of 20+ tablets represented a book - the tablets were created so students could study for their main tests by making paper rubbings of the tablets, which would ensure consistency before the advent of printing.  Rubbings were still being made and you could purchase them as souvenirs.

After the tour, we stopped for an hour long calligraphy lesson with a master who has been practicing his calligraphy skills for over 40 years.  We had a lot of fun and I remember far more of my elementary mandarin than I thought I would!

I thought this gate was simply beautiful.

Later, we visited one of the largest mosques in China - it was unique because it was built in the architectural style of a Chinese temple.  Instead of a minaret, there was a pagoda!

A shot of the arabic writing over the Chinese gate to continue the incongruity.