Archive for October, 2017

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Chuansha

October 8, 2017

Posted by Kanga. Please do not reblog.

Chinese watercolor painting of a tree and two horses

During Golden Week (China National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival), we mostly stayed home and rested. Our big outing was to go to Chuansha overnight and spend a day exploring.

Chuansha was an older, walled city that has been swallowed up by modern Shanghai.

Chinese watercolor of two boys playing

We visited a museum that is the former residence of Huang Yanpei. There was very little signage in English. There are extensive exhibits including information about Huang Yanpei and other prominent people who have lived there over the years. The highlight for me was the artworks.

rubbing of a horse drawing a carriage

After the museum we walked down the adjacent old city street to have lunch.

cobbled street

After lunch we walked along the city moat to a park where remnant city wall is preserved.

15 foot high grey brick wall with crenellations

Next was Heming Tower and Chuansha Park.

five story high square Chinese tower

The park has two parts, an amusement park for children and a park styled after the ancient gardens. The garden was lovely, but very noisy. The boomboxes and karaoke machines make for an assault on the senses.

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To see all the pictures, click here.

Posted in China, garden, museum | 1 Comment »

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City Blocks

October 2, 2017

Posted by Kanga. Please do not reblog.

long city street

During a video conversation with my in-laws, DaddyBird described my walk home from work as “a few city blocks.” I had to disagree. I have no idea what the measurement of a “city block” is.

Above is the first of these “city blocks.” The flat roof near the top of the trees is the gym building of my campus.

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Next I have to cross this pedestrian bridge.

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Looking back from the pedestrian bridge.

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Then I have to walk down a pedestrianized street. I counted 26 restaurants down one side of the length of this “city block.”

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Then I have to turn and walk down this street to the next intersection – the green light.

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Where I turn again. At least I am now on the street that we live on, but still a long way to go.

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It was pouring rain this night. My umbrella was soaked through as were my clothes and shoes.

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You can see the waterfall from this drain pipe.

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Finally, I get to the bridge over the foul smelling waterway.

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There is our building. Not there, yet, because the entrance to the compound is what I call a city block away from the bridge and once in the compound, I have to walk back to the building.

According to Google maps, it is just over one mile. In the pouring rain and stopping to take pictures, it took me an hour to walk home.

Posted in China, rain, Shanghai, weather | 1 Comment »