In Lijiang, I loved the quiet feel. It was so peaceful where our inn was located. But all that changed when I took a walk down Wine Bar Street.

One of the local government officers (one of my mom’s friends) took us for a trip down Wine Bar Street.

What I found amazing was how the peaceful Lijiang turned into something more loud than a concert in one minute.

The Wine Bar Street was a path. It had a little man-made river going down the side, and to get to the bars on that side, you had to cross a bridge.

All of the bars were two-storied, and they were open. Each side was screeching and screaming and singing as loud as they could at the other side.

Why, I wondered. Then I knew. They were seeing who could sing the best. I suppose wine does strange things to people, because they were howling every single song they knew at the other side, which was barking songs at the other.

I covered my ears, but that didn’t stop the noise. A bunch of husky-looking men kept on screeching in my ear something that sounded like noisy chickens.

A gruff man started shouting, “GONNA LIIVE LI’ A KING!”

Some people were playing guitars. Some people were even dancing. Everyone was so noisy, it was hard to believe.

My mom was laughing hysterically at me, as did the government officer. Apparently, they liked the noise.

We walked for about half a minute, and then I noticed the fact that there was no more noise. It was so quiet I heard a cricket chirping.

Strange.