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Donna Dawson has written 31 reviews in 11 countries.
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Gardens in Shanghai, China
Yu Yuan Garden, Shanghai or as some have called it ‘the garden of peace and comfort’, is one of China’s most famous scholar gardens. Yu Yuan Garden with it's zig zag pathway. Built in 1559, a beautiful garden and as you can see, more in bloom because of the warmer temperatures.
Pan Yunduan spent twenty years and all his savings building it to please his parents in their old age. This is a garden that you have to make time for..and look up at the rooflines, where you will see animals – an elephant, perhaps some little squirrel like creatures, or people. Fascinating is what I would describe this garden as, and one not to be missed! I sure hope his parents were happy. |
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Gardens in Suzhou, China
The Yunyan Pagoda was built in 961 and yes, it is slanted a bit more than two meters off its vertical axis. It has been leaning since before the Qing Dynasty.
Today this pagoda has become a symbol of Suzhou. The gardens are for leisurely strolling and there is much to see tucked into nooks and crannies. Around every bend there seemed to be a new feeling of beauty and serenity. There was also a floral festival going on here so not only did we get to enjoy this beautiful garden, but we got to see a bit of what Chinese garden festivals are like. |
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Gardens in Suzhou, China
This is a beautiful garden…full of flowers and the most incredible man made mountains I had ever seen. These 14th century mountains and buildings surround an artificial lake. This garden is noted for its labyrinthine mountains with winding pathways and caverns, old pines and cypress trees. Artfully slipped in is the flowering azalea, the wisteria and of course the red of the maple leaves…just a wonderful place to visit.
There is also in the buildings some very unique furniture to look at. |
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Archaeological Sites in Xi'an, China
Terra-Cotta Army of Qin Shihuangdi, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world and awesome!! The Grand Mausoleum of Qin Emperor, the first emperor of China, is protected by more than 6000 life size Terra-Cotta Warriors and horses.
The exhibit contains multiple exhibition halls, the largest of which is 180 meters by sixty meters in size. The entire site houses the continuing excavation of an army of 6,000 Terra-Cotta soldiers and horses that guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of a unified China whose geographical region approached the country’s modern area. It is a stunning exhibition of ancient artifacts that is well laid out and easy to view and much bigger when you are there to appreciate it! |
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Festivals in Luoyang, China
At the same time that the peony festival is held in April, there is a floral exhibit, where the feature flower of course is the peony. I am including some pictures of the floral arrangements so that you can see what floral design is like in China. 2008 with the Beijing Games coming, that was the theme. There was even peony tree bonsai! |
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