Day 3 of an Unforgettable Journey

Cont'd 

The next city we visited was Tsinan, the capital city of Shantung, historically the point of entry into east Shantung and a town of springs. We arrived rather late at night from Tai Shan because of some bureaucratic delay. The driver of the pollution free van which would take us back to our coach refused to start the journey because he said it was company regulation that they must have a certain number of passengers before it would begin going down hill. They were waiting for another tour group to make up the required number. But that group did not arrive until more than half an hour after we boarded! The driver refused to budge and our local tour guide had to quarrel with him and the office staff responsible for regulating up and down hill van service before the driver would finally agree to move. Before going to the hotel, we first stopped by at this huge "palatial" hotel-restaurant to have a "dumpling feast".

We were supposed to be given the kind of hospitality fit for a king! An imitation of the seat of a Tsing Emperor. We had a waiter serving exclusively us at each table of each of our special rooms. The food was OK but nothing to rave about. To be fair, the service was certainly much better than that at some of the other restaurants we've been to in China, staffed mostly by peasant girls with little idea about "good service". 

This is our hotel lobby.

Just like the other hotel, the theme colors were yellow and red. I note however that Chinese hotels had a fondness for glass sculptures. This one was no exception.

Here're some glass "flamingo flowers" above some real flamingo flowers: a hint of the so-called "postmodernist" mixing of reality and illusion.

 

As usual, I got up early and looked around. It was a spacious city.
Everywhere I looked, I found open spaces. There was a willow tree lined
river as far as I could see and parks everywhere. There was a huge lawn in front of our hotel, decorated with trees a little in the "Bonsai" style amongst carefully placed stones.

A tree whose leaves were turning red amongst some decorative rocks on the lawn.



Our first visit of the day was to see the famous Yellow River. This is the entrance to the Yellow River park.

As everything in China, it was huge!

The Yellow River had to be dredged periodically to prevent silt building up. This ancient rock of several millions of years was dredged up from the bottom of the river during one of the numerous dredging operations.

The garden before the shore of the Yellow River.

The other side of the park.

This is the inner park at the side of this historic river. Nothing much in it.

The head of the dragon at the point of entry at the river bank side of the park.

As the river is seldom clean, one can understand that beauty meant clarity of its water.

The silt at the side of the river carried all the way down from Tibet, through Shenxi, etc.

At the opposite bank is a huge sand sculpture called the "River Mother" to celebrate the Yellow River is the source and cradle of Chinese civilization.

Some trees turning all golden.

There wasn't much else of interest to photograph. So I just took some pictures of the yellowing leaves.

And yellowing pine needles.

Not many flowers in sight. Just a few roses and all faded.

Next we went to Tai Ming Lake. This is the lake immortalized by the 20 chapter Travelogue of the Roving Doctor (老殘遊記) by the Tsing novelist Lau Ngok (劉鶚) 1857-1909) where he described a scene about listening to the recitation of a book (明湖說書記) in the most vivid language.





There was a very rich mix of colors as leaves of different species turn yellow or red at different times.





Everywhere I went, I found that wonderful mix of colors.

Green and red.

Red, green and yellow.





Yellow and green above two different shades of brown, orange and wine red.


.

A literal explosion of colors.

Red and a blaze of bright yellow.

Orange, green, red and yellow.

More dark red, wine red, yellows and greens.

A Chinese style garden lamp.

Another Chinese style temple bell shaped garden lamp.

The Ming Lake House. Is that where The Roving Doctor heard tales being recounted in different tones of voice that he described so vividly in one of the tales of his adventure?

"Bonsai" style trees and rocks in front of the waterside pavilion.

A corner of the lake.

Central China style 9-bend bridge over the water leading to another part of the park.

Once we crossed the bridge, we came into a completely different kind of water garden.

A semi-wild river full of willows and other trees.

Pavilions and bridges.

And more bridges.

A third bridge.

I really like the color and shapes of the trees on the riverbank.

Picturesque old Chinese style houses hidden amidst the trees.

Bronze statuettes of children playing the "spin-top" at the other exit to the park. Our next stop would be the famous "Five Dragon Pools"

Close to the entrance was the famous Liberation Court.

This is the entrance to the "Five Dragon Pools".

Once we entered, we found ourselves within a pool with the clearest and most beautiful emerald green water. The local tour guide told us that nobody knows how deep the pool is.





To the right side of the pool we found various "hills" of weathered limestone, willows and other trees. The pool was embroidered at intervals by thoughtfully placed chrysanthemum everywhere.





Outside of an artificial "cave", you find the name of the pool engraved in emerald green characters.





The further end of the pool from the entrance.

When you walk to the left of the main pool, you'll find pavilions and smaller pools filled with gold fishes.

Some red and yellow gold fishes swimming at leisure in one of the smaller pools.

A closer view of some of the gold fishes.





When you come out, you will find another pool.

Its side are lined with clumps and clumps of chrysanthemums which almost touch the surface of the water.





You find old people taking a stroll on both sides of the stream like pool.




A quiet corner of another small pool.





Another pool to the left of the first pool.

A temple to Kwan Kung in the park or is it Ngok Fei?.

When you emerged from that part of the garden, you find yourself at another gate which is supposed to lead to the famous spring.

You walk along the side of the spring.




Many young people taking photographs of the famous stream. I was told by our coach driver that this stream used to be the moat which surrounded the former little town of Tsinan.




People crossing the bridge to reach the famous spring.

Water from the spring gushing out from the mouths of the three dragons. There were signs everywhere saying that no one is permitted to take water from the spring. But I found many locals filling used plastic bottles for distilled water from the edge of the pool and the security guards acted as if they did not see.

This is the famous Black Spring. On the right of the photo, you can see a local filling up his white plastic container with spring water.





Another local taking a nap on the right foot of the lion further down the path.





To exit the park , you got to cross this bridge.




Another side of the stream.

To go to the exit, you need to walk along this path with a magnificent display of orange-yellow leaves.

Some beautiful yellow leaves I found on the way.

An artificial fountain with water spouting from the mouths of 5 dragons. 

At its side are these beautiful yellow leaves.

More yellow leaves.





Back to the entrance!

To the left of the monument, you'll find some chrysanthemums. This one has both red and yellow petals. Never saw them before.

This one is all white with a tinge of pink

This one is white with a hint of yellow.

This one has narrower petals.

The petals of this are reduced to little strings.

A pink chrysanthemum.





Another pink chrysanthemum but its hues are much stronger.

Another pink chrysanthemum with string like petals.

Some red leaves I found at the side of the path.

Some green leaves amidst a sea of red and yellow.

The outer gate.

After dinner, we were taken to the town square of Tsinan.  This is the entrance. We were given about half an hour to roam around.

This is the other side of the entrance.

A view of the entrance from the opposite side.

Once you passed the entrance, you find the symbol of Tsinan on the left side of the lotus flower.

The equivalent of the Washington Monument and the Obelisk of Paris.

A shining blue key to the world?
 

A sculpture below the Tsinan monument. Shantung pearls?

Modern buildings everywhere around the town square. Here the ubiquitous banks. You find them at every choice commercial location.

You even find an Amway! How many dreams are made and broken there?

Another shopping mall. Fortunately, I am not a woman!