Dad was walking around Xi’an (西安, Xī’ān) when he suddenly stopped. There was a yellow lane painted on the pavement. A big smartphone symbol. And these words: 低头族专用通道 CLICK. 📸 Elaine: “Dad, why did you photograph that?” Dad: “You know what this says?” Elaine: “What?” Dad: “低头族专用通道.” Elaine: “Meaning?” Dad: “Special lane for people who walk while looking down at their phones!” 😂 Elaine: “Seriously?” Dad: “Ya! Now they have their OWN LANE!” 😂 🥚 彩蛋 Dad had just discovered the 低头族 (dītóuzú). Literally, the “heads-down tribe” — people constantly looking down at their phones. 📱 And in Xi’an, someone had taken the joke one step further: 低头族专用通道 “Dedicated Lane for the Heads-Down Tribe” More than 3,000 years of history in Xi’an… ancient walls, emperors, the Terracotta Warriors… and Dad stopped to photograph a lane for people who weren’t looking at any of it. 😂 ChinaTravelBUG — See China. Understand It Better.

We were inside a convenience store in Chengdu (成都, Chéngdū) when Elaine suddenly called Dad over to the noodle section. Elaine: “Dad, come and see this.” Dad: “What?” Elaine pointed at the shelf. Elaine: “Cao Cao!” Dad: “曹操?!” Dad looked again. Dad: “Cao Cao is selling noodles now?!” 😂 Dad immediately pulled out his phone. CLICK. 📸 🥚 彩蛋 Yes. That was 曹操 (Cáo Cāo) — the famous warlord and statesman from the Three Kingdoms era — appearing on the packaging of an everyday food product. More than 1,800 years after Cao Cao was fighting for power in ancient China… Elaine found him in a Chengdu convenience store. Selling noodles. 😂 Sometimes Chinese history isn’t only inside museums. Sometimes it’s waiting for you in the instant-noodle aisle. ChinaTravelBUG — See China. Understand It Better.

Elaine: “Dad, why are you photographing the receipt?” Dad: “Look at the bank.” Elaine: “Huaxia 华夏 Bank?” Dad: “Ya. HUAXIA 华夏.” Elaine: “So?” Dad: “How old is Huaxia? This must be the OLDEST BANK in the world!?” 😂 🥚 彩蛋 The Chinese name on the receipt was: 华夏银行 — Huáxià Yínháng HUAXIA BANK Huáxià (华夏) is an ancient name closely associated with China and Chinese civilization. But Huaxia Bank isn’t ancient. 😂 It was founded in 1992. So Dad photographed a boring receipt… because one ancient-looking word made him think he’d discovered the world’s oldest bank. 😂 Another tiny piece of China hiding in plain sight. ChinaTravelBUG — See China. Understand It Better.

Dad and Elaine were wandering through the antique market in Dezhou (德州, Dézhōu). Then Dad suddenly stopped. Dad: “Elaine, look at this red book.” Elaine: “What is it?” Dad: “结婚证.” Elaine: “What’s that?” Dad: “Marriage certificate!” 😂 Elaine: “WHAT?” Dad: “Someone’s MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE is for sale in the antique market!” Elaine: “Why would anyone sell their marriage certificate?” Dad: “Good question…” Dad: “Maybe the marriage became antique too?” 😂😂 🥚 彩蛋 Dad went to Dezhou’s antique market expecting: old coins,old books,old ceramics… He wasn’t expecting an old marriage. 😂 And that was exactly why Dad took the photo. Want to see what else Dad & Elaine discovered on the pavement in Dezhou? Further Reading: Beyond Beijing: Go to Dezhou 德州 — and Discover How Ming China Connected an Empire With the Wider World

Dad: “Elaine, you see this?” Elaine: “What?” Dad: “CONFUCIUS FAMILY BEER!” Elaine: “Oh…” Dad: “We are in Qufu… Confucius’ hometown.” Dad: “Confucius brewed his own beer?” 😂 Elaine: “Dad……” 🥚 彩蛋 No, Confucius didn’t brew Dad’s beer. 😂 But somehow, in Qufu (曲阜, Qūfù), even Dad’s beer reminded him where we were: The hometown of Confucius — 孔子 (Kǒngzǐ). Want to know why Qufu turned into one of the most interesting stops of our Shandong journey? Further Reading: Beyond Beijing: Go to Qufu 曲阜 — and Discover Why Confucius Still Matters in China

Dad: “Elaine, you see this beer?” Elaine: “What?” Dad: “Baotu Spring (趵突泉, Bàotū Quán) Beer!” Dad: “Do you think the water comes from Baotu Spring itself?” Elaine: “I guess so…” Dad: “That’s interesting. This city produces its own beer!” 😂 🥚 彩蛋 We had come to Jinan (济南, Jǐnán) to discover its famous springs. Dad found one on a beer can. 🍺😂 Want to know why Jinan is known as China’s “City of Springs” (泉城, Quánchéng)? Further Reading: Beyond Beijing: Go to Jinan 济南 — Where the Springs Open the Door to Shandong History