Two Months in China, A Modern Businessman's Journey

     One of my most pleasant surprises of many, many pleasant surprises while in Huaqiao, was the discovery of an amazing park contiguous to my apartment community. It is absolutely enchanting and as beautiful a park as I’ve ever seen. I have taken a walk in the park every day I was in Huaqiao since I discovered it. As you can see, the entry to the park is quite dramatic with manicured trees lining an intricately stoned walkway decorated appropriately, adorned with the New Years and Chinese Lantern Festival Lights.

There is a sign dedicating the park to someone but I couldn’t read it’s Chinese content but whoever they are should be proud! There are pebbled brooks and streams, fantastic landscaping, including blooming flowers, bamboo trees, rock sculptures, and stream after stream that the visitor traverses either via arched bridges or stepping stones. I met a very nice young lady on one of the bridges who was anxious to practice her English on me as most Chinese people who are learning English are. She took my picture which shamelessly depicts my newly shaved bald head (see story above)!

     There are also at least 3 temples and 2 pagodas. The park’s creators also put a circular testament to the Chinese year symbols. I took two shots that together show all of the sculptures representing the Chinese year symbols. I also took a few shots of my individual favorites: the tiger (because this is the year of the tiger), the dragon (because it’s just plain cool) and the pig (for my daughter, Holly, who loves porkies!) They are beautiful and creative Asian structures.

     On the latter pictures you can see my apartment complex in the background and the shots end- as my first day in the park did- with a lovely Chinese sunset as the sun peered it’s last minutes of the day through the trees.