Today Nicole and I went to the Haizu National Wetland Park. It is an urban wetlands that is very quiet and beautiful. The Chinese really love beautiful places and their use of elements in design is beautiful.We took the metro to Datang Station and exited the B exit. It is right outside that metro exit by simply making a right turn and follow the bridge to the park.
The flowers were beautiful.
I really love how they use different textures in their design.
Many little pavilions were great places to rest.
This is a manmade tree that hides communication equipment.
More natural design elements.
In the center of the lake is an island where many birds can be found.
Many of the buildings throughout the park are interesting and look serene in the landscape.
I loved the thatched roof on this building.
It s such a beautiful day and every view seemed stunning.
More flora.
Boats along the shore of the wetlands.
Statues of workers and grain bags.
Children feeding the ducks.
We were close to the area we sometimes go to eat. We affectionately call it squid street as there are vendors selling squid on a stick. There are other foods to eat as well. We decided to test our ability to navigate and get there.We went through some dodgy areas where many knock off items seem to be sold.
We actually attracted a bit of attention as it appears we were not in an area many foreigners visit.
A group of gentlemen playing mahjong. They were very spirited and a competitive game.
We did a good job of navigating but came across many dead ends where apartment areas were gated. We were able to get through one thanks to a nice guy. It was easier to get to the next main street that way.Eventually we found ourselves in familiar territory and found our street.
We are at the Korean restaurant. These noodles are delicious and one of my favorites.
A dandelion sculpture we passed on the way back.
After a very long day walking on a hot day (34 C), I was grateful for a pool to chill down in!
Zongzi is a special treat available during dragon boat festival. It is made of sticky rice with different items in the center. It is shaped into a pyramid and wrapped with lotus or corn leaf. It is steamed.
They can either be savory or sweet. The popular savory flavors are red bean or some meat like pork or chicken.
This one is red bean. The sticky rice is so delicious and I’ve found through travels in Asia that sticky rice fills you up longer than plain rice. It is yummy.
The sweet zongzi have dates or some fruit on the inside.
If you read my last post, you will see why this is associated with dragon boat.
Starbucks had a limited special on ice dumplings. They are wrapped in a leaf but are pretty interesting. Instead of rice, it is made from gelatin and flavors like strawberry and coffee are inside.
Even though there is one week of school left, a day of was much appreciated. This vacation is dragon boat day and is a national holiday. I had a wonderful day!
So what is dragon boat day? The Story of how dragon boat day came to be is:
Dragon Boat Festival, aka ‘Duanwujie’ (端午节), commemorates the life and death of the famous scholar and poet Qu Yuan, who lived during the Warring States period of the Zhou Dynasty in around 300 BC. The festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.
According to Chinese folklore, Qu contributed a lot to society while serving in high offices. He fell out of favor with the emperor after others spread rumors of him, was accused of treason and eventually sent into exile. During his time in exile, Qu wrote a lot of poetry. Unappreciated and unhappy, he drowned himself in the Miluo river on May 5 of the lunar calendar in 278 BC after the Qin state captured the Chu capital of Ying.
According to legend, the local villagers highly admired Qu. In an attempt to save him, or at least find his body, they raced out onto the river in boats – which is said to be the origin of dragon boat races.
Legend has it that packets of rice were thrown into the river to prevent the fish from eating Qu’s body. Gradually, people took to eating ‘zongzi’ (粽子), glutinous rice with different fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves, around this time each year. Zongzi can either be sweet or savory.
I spent the day with my friends searching for dragon boats along the river. There are multiple places where events were occurring in Guangzhou and we chose to start close to the apartments.
Along the river there was much activity with many boats in the water. The drums on the boat keep the beat for everyone to paddle together.
It was very hot outside and very humid. It was very tiring out in the sun. We started out at Ersha Island walking around the island.
We then walked up the river to Liede. Along the way we spotted this street barrier. It was so absurd we had to take a picture.
The statue even had its own umbrella.
At Liede there were many boats in the canal. Most of these boats are stored in the mud through the year and dug out just prior to the festival.
Along the way we appreciated the flowers.
We also saw some fruit trees. This is a rose apple and actually has a perfume taste.
In Liede, buildings were constructed in the old style. Many are restaurants.
We then sought refuge from the heat in a nearby mall (IGC). We ate at Grandmother’s Kitchen. It was fabulous food. We ate Mandarin fish, vegetables, and chrysanthemum tea. That tea is great for cooling down the body on a hot day.
At this restaurant is a large steamer basket. I have not seen one so big.
A nice way to start June is visiting a garden (or two).
At Daling ancient Town are these pillars for hanging the scrolls of those who successfully complete the broad and difficult National Imperial Examination to be deemed a wise person in China. These go back centuries and was an esteemed honor to pass. Not many people actually pass all the tests.
The ancient town is a mix of old and new. Many ancient buildings with new construction interspersed.
It is the only National Village designated to be of cultural and historical characteristics in Guangzhou. It is 800 years old. It features architectural structures of the Lignan style that are unique to South China: ancestral hall made of oyster shells, stone bridges, pagodas, sculptures, wells, academies and typical ancient streets.
The origin of the village dates back to the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279). By the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911), the village was home to one of the scholars who ranked third in the National Imperial Examinations of the Qing Dynasty. Many Imperial government officials were born in this village.
There are ancestral family buildings that have places to honor the family. We looked at many pictures and genealogy family trees that were on display as well as many artifacts and antiques. Many of these places in ancient towns also serve as recreation centers for older people to play mahjong, get exercise, and have community.
This is a dragon boat. It is buried in the mud of the river to protect it from the elements. Every year for Dragon boat day, they dig it up again for the festival and then bury it again until the next year.
The town backs up to the Bodhisattva Mountains and surrounded by the Yudai River on three sides. Along the canals that runs through the village are many ancient stone bridges. This bridge is called Longjing Bridge and is several hundred years old.
A pagoda.
Outside the ancestral hall.
Many ancestral halls have a small open area in the center that allows light into the adjacent areas as their is no electricity originally in these buildings.
This drum is used during the dragon boat festival for everyone to row in unison.
Lotus flower pond. In a couple weeks, all the flowers will be blooming!
I love the architecture of the roof lines and the 3D sculptures that bring nature up front.
This house was specifically for women who were older and never married.
An example of a wall that is made from oyster shells. This helped provide strength and ventilation.
Each home had access to a well. They would use a bucket to gather their water.
This is taro. It is a starchy root that is used in many dishes. Much drier than potatoes and a little starchy. With the right preparation, it is very good!
These are considered protectors of the buildings and can be found painted on many of the doors of the ancestral halls.
We next stopped at a vegetarian restaurant. On one side is a place for tea and making music. This day was also childrens day so they had many activities for children. They were very happy to show us around though not originally part of the tour. It is such a peaceful place to be.
At the restaurant they had a beautiful garden pond that was quite relaxing.
We also visited Yuyinshanfang,which is a landscape garden built over 150 years ago. The owner is a scholar named Wubin, who built it on land given to him after retiring from a very high position in Qing dynasty government. Now back in his hometown his house would afford the opportunity to enjoy a hermit style life and preserve memory of his ancestors. Although it is less than 2000 square meters, there are all kinds of pavilions, bridges, winding trails, flowers and gardens. The various courtyards and paths created breath taking outdoor spaces. The architectural decoration in the gardens were carefully carved by well-known craftsmen, with poems, books and paintings making the whole garden house an amazing place to visit. It would be fabulous to have lived there. The grandson of Wubin later turned it over to the government for others to visit and enjoy.
This is actually the living room where visitors were entertained.
This is a jackfruit tree. It looks like durian though the bumpy skin on jackfruit is much smaller.
This is a giant board of Chinese chess.
This is on the otherside of the property. There are more places to play as well as a separate building for the women. Here would be a room for a girl. Rarely would women be seen in public, generally kept away from the rest of society. They would spend their time sewing, singing, painting, or playing music. Of course they had families early.
We listened to some beautiful music at the end before leaving for home.
I like walking through this city and seeing new things. I’m also getting acquainted with where things are.I am taking a closer look at maps to find gardens and parks to visit. Nicole and I stumbled upon this park walking one night. We came back during the day to get pictures.Walking home we saw a dragon boat. Teams are practicing for dragon boat festival on June 7.Up near the sports center are malls. Okay, actually there are malls on every corner it seems.There are always fountains and decorations.This is close to where I run with the Nike run club. Pictures from my last run with them:
The weather has certainly warmed up here. It is definitely tropical. Very hot and humid with pop up thunderstorms. But I still try to walk as many places as I can to get exercise.
I am fascinated by the men who write Chinese water poems on the tile. I see them often when I walk through parks or along the river. They use special brushes to make the characters.
Every different season, workers plant flowers in the many gardens around the city. Each season brings different beauty. On one of my runs I actually stopped to smell these flowers.
In the past weeks I have gone to a few activities here in Guangzhou. This was the Am Cham ball. The theme was the greatest show. It was a fabulous time with friends with great food and lovely dancing. Here I am with my friend Nicole. She leaves in a few weeks to move to Egypt. I’ll miss her.
The food was wonderful and artistically presented. This was just the desserts.
What a wonderful night.
The next morning I participated in a helipad workout again for charity. It was a beautiful day and a great workout.
The city is so large.
In this direction is where I live now towards the river.
This is the direction towards Tianhe. I will be moving there to a new adjustment at the end of this school year.
A week later I met with Lilly. She was at the Am Cham ball and we had a great time dancing. She was a lot if fun and I met her son at a Cantonese restaurant.
Deep fried squid.
Afterwards we visited the largest bookstore in guangzhou. It was next door to the restaurant.
Banana tours in guangzhou has been putting together interesting excursions. I first met them with the pottery outing over a month ago.
When they had free tickets for the Beijing youth opera group performing Peking Opera, I jumped at a ticket. I did not know what to expect but wanted to experience Chinese culture.
Peking Opera combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It began during the Qing Dynasty(1700-1900). It was extremely popular in the Qing court and is considered a cultural treasure.
The actors have heavy makeup to accent their features as their expressions are a large part of the storytelling.
Journalist Henry Chu wrote in the Los Angeles Times;
“What turns off many Westerners and younger Chinese from Peking Opera delights its older fans: the high-pitched, almost whiny singing; the cacophony of cymbals and clappers; the heavily stylized movements; and the bountiful symbolism, by which the slightest gesture on the nearly naked stage conveys meaning and action.”
The pitch of the singing was high and took some getting used to. Think of it as very high falsetto.
However the expressions, hand and body gestures, and movements were beautiful. It takes many years to master this.
The stories that make up Peking Opera come from the history of China, and include tales from the dynasties, historical events, and stories about emperors, ministers, and beautiful women, and some not so true accounts from literature.
The opera was Farewell my concubine. There are two wives and one becomes jealous of the other and sets out to poison her, instead poisoning the husband. There is treachery as the new widow is poor and the other is able to bribe others to have her imprisoned. You can see where the story goes.
Screens along the side of the stage give the storyline but I was slow translating so missed post of the story.
Some video of the performance.
After the show, we met many of the actors. It was explained that the voice is so high as there are no microphones and they need to project their voice far. They focus the sound to come from the back of their head out from above their eyes. It is a different way to project and quite interesting.
Every once in awhile you need to just stay in and watch TV. In this case, waking up with a sore throat but feeling otherwise fine turned into a fever of 101 by the end of the day on Friday.
Sleep and cat cuddling was necessary. Taking a walk between rain storms then taking some more naps…
It was nice to talk to my brother and sister in law Sunday morning despite the fact the call was to let me know my mother was in an accident. So glad to have all these ways to connect these days. Will make the updates easier to get.
I joined the land of the living on Sunday to watch Avengers End Game with friends. Sometimes it is the little things like learning to order movie tickets on a Chinese app then being able to use the touch screen at the theater (no English) to print them that makes you feel like you can accomplish something in another country. Small wins are good.
They had many theater rooms showing at the same time, some with VIP perks, etc. Concessions are there but not as big as in the states.
We ate at a Chinese restaurant before hand. I had a Calamari and shrimp congee. It is like a rice porridge and amazingly tasty. The beans are the best vegetable dish I have had here so far.
Before the movie started we bought these cooked breads baked into bears and took them in with us. We had every intention to portion them throughout the movie but that didn’t happen. They were gone before it started. It is not the first time we had them. They are so good.
Of course, why not have ice cream after the movie. We went to Häagen-Dazs and I ordered a Jasmine raspberry pomegranate scoop of ice cream in a cone. Very Yummy.
The one thing I miss from before I moved to China is learning something new and creating with my bare hands. I have not bought craft items here but have had the yearning to try something I have not had the opportunity to do before. I saw this pottery tour and class and couldn’t resist. Sometimes you just need to get your hands dirty.
After a very long week, this is exactly what I needed.
Pottery is a gift from god to humans
No matter how small a force is, it will splash somewhere.
Even the weakest wind breaks the stiffness of the air.
I’m going to escape from the fickle city for a while
Just a little while
To care and comfort myself
About the pottery tour and class:
It sounds like an old forest in a deep mountain, but it’s just a small hill in the suburb of Panyu district. An artists couple want to concentrate on their art work, so they moved out of the city, and built up their workshop here by themselves. Brick by brick, step by step, they put all their passion and feeling of pottery into this unique place. You can’t tell how peaceful and beautiful this place is, until you come here.
The artist and her husband teach ceramics at university, offer classes, and create pieces on order. They have a couple apprentices working with them. They live the slow life: Growing their own food and living the artist life.
Pieces of pottery are found in walls and walkways.
This is a shipping container that is their kitchen so it can be moved around if they expand or rearrange.
This is the outsude of the library. In Chinese, to read books is Kan shu. They do research here for different methods, styles, and designs.
Inside the room.
This pottery piece is from the Ming dynasty.
This cat is actually for on top of a roof. If there is a storm coming, the wind will make a whistling sound through the cats mouth.
Outside the gallery of artists pieces.
Inside a large pottery piece is a turtle.
More pictures around the property.
Many different kinds of pots and figurines.
Many cups and shards add interest to everything.
Storage area outside the potters area.
The kiln. The artist gave us a tour after a history of pottery during the first tea.
One side of the classroom.
During the first class we learned a few basic techniques for creating plates. We were able to make multiple pieces from which we could choose the one we liked best (we could pay extra for others we made).
This is a rectangular serving plate. It is upside down to dry into shape over a form.
This one has a design in the plate of a tree. I did not take a picture of it before I put it on the form so hoping that it comes out okay and I can show you later.
After lunch we were taught how to use the wheel. It took some practice. My mug did not turn out as hoped. It definitely had character as it leaned quite a bit.
I did make a pretty decent bowl.
They did make a video of the second pottery class.
After the class we had another tea and snacks while learning more about pottery and history.
There were many beautiful pieces in the tea room.
Inside the artists gallery. These are not for sale but samples for those to place orders.
We did try some Chinese calligraphy. It is much harder than it seems.
The place seems like it’s far away. It is in the far reaches of the city and the hustle and bustle feels much farther away. The tour included transportation, 2 Chinese tea with snacks, healthy lunch, 2 pottery classes, calligraphy class, and one item that we made (they fire and glaze the pieces). We also had the opportunity to buy extra pieces we made for 50 rmb each (7,44 USD). They glaze and fire those as well.
It was a rainy, cold, and dreary day. Perfect for learning something new and refilling the soul.
Walking home we saw a dragon boat. Teams are practicing for dragon boat festival on June 7.
Up near the sports center are malls. Okay, actually there are malls on every corner it seems.There are always fountains and decorations.
This is close to where I run with the Nike run club. Pictures from my last run with them:
