Lanzhou, Gansu Province

2. Lanzhou Department Store

One afternoon we went shopping just to see what might be for sale in the store. We went into this large department store shown behind Bernice. On the fourth floor we discovered a sale going on of opera costumes. We couldn't resist buying a full-length operas costume of an Imperial Court Official complete with hat and shoes. Made of silk and hand embroidered in exquisite detail, it hangs in our closet today. Bernice dared me to wear it out on the street at our hotel and it caused quite a stir when people saw us. One poor fellow rode his bicycle into a lamp pole looking at us.