The 6 of us have another day in Guangzhou and we've arranged for another guide to show us around the city. We're met in the morning by Mr. Lo, our guide for the day who first takes us to the Chen Ancestral Hall (陈家嗣) built sometime in the late 1800's. The building was financed by Chen clan family members living all over Guangdong province, to be used to commemorate ancestors and to serve as temporary residences for Chen descendants visiting the capital of the province. The buildings have been restored and are now used as exhibit halls showcasing Guangdong folk art.
The pottery and limestone sculptures all along the rooftops tells stories or have some specific meaning.
Chinese embroidery art, looks like a painting but it's actually made up of thousands of stitches.
Miniature paintings on display. On a skinny tube of ceramic that might be 1 cm. tall, looking through the magnifying glass, you can see a group of scholars in discussion.
Ivory carvings...the sphere within a sphere within a sphere shapes are carved from one piece, no glue or connectors.
I have to go to the washroom. This brings out anger and aggression. We can queue like civilized people, but there are sneaky ladies who will jump the line like it's their right. You have to hold out your elbows and block the way or you'll never get your chance. Even if they're old ladies, stay strong!
Brick and wood carvings.
Next we visit the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂). He was a revolutionary and the co-founder of the Nationalist Party, one of China's greatest modern leaders.
We visit Yue Xiu Park (越秀公园), a 92 hectare park. The legend is that a celestrial being blessed the land by sending 5 sheep with different types of grain in their mouths. They would also protect the area from famine and other natural disasters. Therefore Guangzhou is known as the "city of sheep" and there's a 5 sheep monument in the park...and hence the happy sheep on the side of the public bus.
The Tong sisters also lived in Guangzhou when they were kids, so we take a drive through their old neighbouhood to try to find their old apartment. Number 42 is still there and incidentally, their name 'Tong' is written on this box outside, but they don't know of any relatives still there. Dad's family also lived briefly in Guangzhou when they were kids, but he doesn't remember where.
We also visit Huanghuagang Park (黄花岗) where there is the monument for the 72 martyrs of the failed revolution in 1911. Dad remembers being here when he was younger.
We look around downtown Guangzhou's modern architecture. Most of the buildings have been built in the last 10 years. The IFC building is on the left and the twisty Canton Tower is on the right, the world's tallest TV tower standing at 600m. beating out the CN Tower.
Above, the Guangdong Museum (广东博物馆新馆) kind of reminds me of a leg-less, darker OCAD. Below, the Guangzhou Opera House designed by Zaha Hadid.
I'm building my own Tiny Tower and how appropriate, an Asian Restaurant has been built in it! Farewell Guangzhou. Tomorrow to Hong Kong!!
