It was great that Harlan Chambers was able to visit me here in Guangzhou. He is working on his doctoral dissertation in Shanghai. He was excited to see museums and eat all the food in Guangzhou. Once he arrived he fell in love with this city. It really is a great place to live.
When we had time we toured the area as I still had classes and this is the last week before Chinese New year holiday.
I had not yet visited many of the museums here and only a few in Dongshankou. He did his research! It was nice to see areas of the city I had not explored and especially try new restaurants. Harlan is fluent in Mandarin and made it so much easier though I am happy that I am able to figure out some of what is being said with some of the vocabulary I already know.
The Martyrs Memorial Park commemorates the death of the Chinese communist party against the Kuomintang in the Guangzhou uprising.
Chinese and Korean people and Chinese and Soviet people blood Pagodas.
There was much singing in the park and I love when you can see the love people have for their country and their history.
After touring we realized we were close to Beijing Lu and I thought he would want to see the old temple, Jade Buddha, and eat at the restaurant in the temple. It was tough to only make a few choices to eat and not order too much food.
Guangdong history museum was very enlightening as I had only a small knowledge of Chinese history. I now know a little more but will really have to start at the beginning to put it together as there is such a long and complicated history here.
Peasant Movement Institute was a school with a united front to assist peasant and worker movements. It brought together the nationalists and communists along with an alliance with Russia in the 1920’s. Many of the former students were killed in the 1927 failed uprising and are memorialized in Martyrs Park. Sun Yat Sen, Peng Pai, and Mao Zedong were key in this movement.
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. This place was fabulous with an octagonal roof. There was history of Sun Yat Sen and his influence throughout the works when he worked with other revolutionaries and fled or asylum.
All the building specifications had to be exact to be able to achieve the roofline and make a sound building. In the center is a large theater. Sun Yat Sen was devoted to education and helping common people for their future. This is a lasting legacy to his work as the theater is used for that purpose.
Walking behind the memorial Hall are monuments. Lots of stairs to get to the top where the memorial monument to his life is found.
This memorial is a part of the Yuexiu park which is massive and the largest park here in Guangzhou. We only covered 1/3 of it but it is spectacular and a park I had yet to see. I will come back to look more closely.
The 5 rams sculpture is based on a legend of 5 immortals riding on rams into the then barren land of Guangzhou 2000 years ago carrying sheaves of rice. Once leaving the rice behind, Guangzhou became prosperous.
This is the old Guangzhou city wall which is an ancient relic here in the park. I love seeing how these trees will find ways to send roots into the ground. Nature is fantastic.
As it is now a couple weeks to chinese new year, the decorations are now going up. This year is the year of the rat. Displays are impressive everywhere you go.
In Huacheng Square, the pedestrian street I like to run is also creating displays.
The Canton Tower at dusk.
On the way back home we went through Taikoo Hui. It is a very upscale mall and of course we stopped for fabulous ice cream. In the valet area we saw this car. It must be expensive and rate a as everyone was taking pictures of it.
THE bookstore in Tianhe. 6 floors of books and other items and you can find people reading in the aisles…. You will not see this in America.
There is some odd looking good that taste fabulous. This is matcha, black rice, and blueberry cheese.
A Tom and Jerry exhibition in the One Link mall in Tianhe.
At school we had another lion dance celebration which is fabulous. This is long but showed the athleticism, culture, and acrobatics.
Of course he didn’t fall. It is part of the act.
More great acrobatics.
Happy Chinese New Year.
