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Kate's Chronicles
This last week we are definitely seeing Spring in the air. Flowers are starting to bloom everywhere and the days are decidedly warmer. Hence I've been able to get out and about to see more of this wonderful city.
Work wise things are going very well - students finally getting used to me and starting to talk a lot more - we are even managing to inject some mutual humour into the classroom!! I was asked to judge the NMU debating contest on Thursday and Friday which was very enlightening. For a culture that is based on avoiding conflict and saving face the students have certainly taken to debating with a vengeance!! The upshot is that we now have chosen our 2 best debaters to represent the Uni in the National competition in Beijing.
A public holiday today, so no classes for me, to celebrate Qingming Festival - also known as Tomb Sweeping Day and Clear Bright Festival. .This festival was suppressed for many years by the Communist Government but is now openly celebrated. It is a day to honor past ancestors. Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Some people carry willow branches with them as they believe that willow branches help ward off the evil spirit that wanders on Qingming. Another popular thing seems to be flying kites in the shapes of animals or characters from Chinese Opera. Needless to say the sky is very colourful!!!
I have been inspired to gain a little bit of culture this week and thus spent time in Changjiang Road (better known as Culture Street) including a visit to the Presidential Palace, the Meiyuan New Village Museum and the Jiangsu Provisional Art Museum. In fact as you walk along this street you see many cultural sights from street sculpture to water featured gardens to elaborate stone wall carvings.
The buildings and gardens of the Presidential Palace are magnificent to say the least. .The palace was originally erected in the Qing Dynasty and has a history if more than 600 years. After the Chinese Communist Party took power in 1949, the palace was used as the provincial government office until 1998.This was home to many governments including those of Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kaishek both famous figures in Chinese history. I simply love the names given to so many of the Halls and Pavilions - so I've included several for you to enjoy amongst the photos.
The Meiyuan Museum includes historical documentation, exhibitions and the buildings associated with the Communist Party Chinese Delegation led by Zhou Enlai in peace talks with the Kuomintang (KMT) .From May 1946 to March 1947, Mr. Zhou lived and worked here for peace talk between two parties of China. The leaders of two parties united all people of Chine to resist Japanese intruders, but unfortunately KMT violated the agreement after surrender of Japan and at the same time KMT's army began to assault CPC troops. Consequently the Civil War of China started until August 1949. An imposing bronze statue of Zhou Enlai stands at the entrance of this interesting historic site. Today it looks like a modern village setting from the outside.....but once you get into the little alleyways you find the history. When I came out I came across this cute little boy driving his car down the street - as erratically as the drivers on the road!!! Permission given for photo from his grandfather but I'm not too sure the boy liked it very much!!
The Art Museum contained some beautiful examples of sculpture, calligraphy and
Chinese paintings from various eras. Unfortunately everything was
written in Chinese so I did not get to understand the historical
significance of the many pieces on display - I just enjoyed viewing!!
So I've managed to give you all another glimpse into China's history. I find it totally fascinating especially when we blab on about history at home which only covers 200 years!!! So much has been preserved here in China that I could be here for a lifetime and still not see everything!!
Hoping everyone is fit and well. Don't forget to tell me any news from home.....that is one thing lacking here.....the news broadcast are very sino-centric!!!!!!
Bye for now. xxx
Work wise things are going very well - students finally getting used to me and starting to talk a lot more - we are even managing to inject some mutual humour into the classroom!! I was asked to judge the NMU debating contest on Thursday and Friday which was very enlightening. For a culture that is based on avoiding conflict and saving face the students have certainly taken to debating with a vengeance!! The upshot is that we now have chosen our 2 best debaters to represent the Uni in the National competition in Beijing.
A public holiday today, so no classes for me, to celebrate Qingming Festival - also known as Tomb Sweeping Day and Clear Bright Festival. .This festival was suppressed for many years by the Communist Government but is now openly celebrated. It is a day to honor past ancestors. Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Some people carry willow branches with them as they believe that willow branches help ward off the evil spirit that wanders on Qingming. Another popular thing seems to be flying kites in the shapes of animals or characters from Chinese Opera. Needless to say the sky is very colourful!!!
I have been inspired to gain a little bit of culture this week and thus spent time in Changjiang Road (better known as Culture Street) including a visit to the Presidential Palace, the Meiyuan New Village Museum and the Jiangsu Provisional Art Museum. In fact as you walk along this street you see many cultural sights from street sculpture to water featured gardens to elaborate stone wall carvings.
The buildings and gardens of the Presidential Palace are magnificent to say the least. .The palace was originally erected in the Qing Dynasty and has a history if more than 600 years. After the Chinese Communist Party took power in 1949, the palace was used as the provincial government office until 1998.This was home to many governments including those of Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kaishek both famous figures in Chinese history. I simply love the names given to so many of the Halls and Pavilions - so I've included several for you to enjoy amongst the photos.
The Meiyuan Museum includes historical documentation, exhibitions and the buildings associated with the Communist Party Chinese Delegation led by Zhou Enlai in peace talks with the Kuomintang (KMT) .From May 1946 to March 1947, Mr. Zhou lived and worked here for peace talk between two parties of China. The leaders of two parties united all people of Chine to resist Japanese intruders, but unfortunately KMT violated the agreement after surrender of Japan and at the same time KMT's army began to assault CPC troops. Consequently the Civil War of China started until August 1949. An imposing bronze statue of Zhou Enlai stands at the entrance of this interesting historic site. Today it looks like a modern village setting from the outside.....but once you get into the little alleyways you find the history. When I came out I came across this cute little boy driving his car down the street - as erratically as the drivers on the road!!! Permission given for photo from his grandfather but I'm not too sure the boy liked it very much!!
The Art Museum contained some beautiful examples of sculpture, calligraphy and
Chinese paintings from various eras. Unfortunately everything was
written in Chinese so I did not get to understand the historical
significance of the many pieces on display - I just enjoyed viewing!!
So I've managed to give you all another glimpse into China's history. I find it totally fascinating especially when we blab on about history at home which only covers 200 years!!! So much has been preserved here in China that I could be here for a lifetime and still not see everything!!
Hoping everyone is fit and well. Don't forget to tell me any news from home.....that is one thing lacking here.....the news broadcast are very sino-centric!!!!!!
Bye for now. xxx
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