Zhangjiajie, Part 3: Dinner AND a Show!

Back at the hotel, I decided to wander around. If I understand correctly, this hotel was created as a sort of government-sponsored thing... it's a partnership between different tourism bureaus. It also has a crapload of features: a barber shop, a western restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, a spa, shops, and office center... here's the thing though, I wandered around, and found all those things, but they were all empty. Some of them were even open- it's just that nobody was there! I felt like I was wandering through a ghost hotel! Obviously it's off season. When I asked at the front desk about dinner, I was lead to a large, dark restaurant, where about 10 staffmembers were sitting around a table. Once they saw me, they all sprang into action, turning on lights and setting the table; before I knew it, I had an entire restaurant staff at my beck and call. It was SO weird! I felt like a princess. To make things even mroe surreal, a group of "ethnic minority" girls came in, wearing full costume, and sat down at a table across the restaurant. They were all giggling and chatting... it was lovely to watch them, but for the life of me, I didn't know why they were there! Just a bit later though, a 17-person tour group came in (they're the only others occupying the hotel now), and I learned that the girls were here to perform for them. I also quickly learned that they were Japanese, which is AWESOME!!
You know what else was awesome? My dinner! I had stewed vegetables, Hunan-style tofu, and rice. SO GOOOOOOD!!!
The performance was great too. The girls sang and danced, and they were so graceful! The folk songs they sang were witty and funny and full of spunk and spirit, and their voices were heavenly!
I loved watching the Japanese tourists. I know it's funny, but with them present, I really felt at home. Their speach and manerisms took me right back to Japan, and made me feel infinitely content. I ran to get my camera at one point, and when I asked if it was OK to join in on the picture taking in Japanese, all the tourists were like "Whaaaaaaaa???? She speaks JAPANESE???" It was great!!
Now I'm curled into my bed, watching Chinese soaps and feeling luxuriously drousy. The friendly staff and lovely Japanese tourists have made me feel very at home, and I will rest easy tonight. Ah, speaking of which, I had better get to bed! It's already 11:30 and breakfast is served at 7:30! I want to be there right on time, so I can see all I can see in the park and still catch my bus back to Changsha.
Aaaaah, lovely day!!! Fantastic adventure!