Liu Hua Park

Still 12/9, we moved from the temple to Liu Hua Park.  It is near the Marriott in Guangzhou.  One pulls up to the giant poster of Deng Xiaoping, who brought a lot of the China we know today to the forefront.

Moving past that we started a winding walk into this park with a large lake off to our left.  Our guide told us that this used to be the summer palace for some royalty from some past dynasty until the time of the Revolution of 1949 when because of the fighting much of it was destroyed.

Hotel next to lake

Bridge is only structure that remains of palace

Moving on we came upon this sculpture and a photo op.

Christenberry boys, Poppi and Tian. 

A big banyan tree

Moving from one section of the park to another 

we came upon this scene that could be timeless in China.

Then moving out of this area down the street just a bit and into another opening of the park we continued to see the lake some more.

A nearby sculpture

Then we came upon stuff the kids could climb on and pose.

Tian had a lot of fun with the Christenberry children.

Yu-Hsuan taking a picture.

Star watching a little child ride a figure.

Next a group performing Chinese opera

This was followed by exercise park

left to right - Shecki, Kim, Tim

Then at last a roller coaster

A pedal yourself monorail device

Yu-Hsuan, Mr. Bean, Tian

While these pictures may not be in actual order visited in the park, they were all located there and it was a delightful outing.

Six Banyan Trees Temple

12/9 - The day started with a visit to the 6 Banyan Trees Temple.  One drives along and then all of a sudden there you are, on a street that appears about as non-descript as possible, that something as important as a temple would be anywhere around.  But this is not America or Europe, for it appears they do not go with big fanfare - you just are there.

Stepping through the gate into a roofed structure, a big Buddha facing inward and four others on opposite walls as one views the courtyard.  The first place the faithful can leave offerings of money, flowers or food.

Stepping into the courtyard we are met with this pagoda that is 9 floors high although we are told the inside has twice that many.  Since it is wooden and several hundred years old, visitors can no longer climb it.  It dominates the whole temple.

Back on earth, though right in front of us is this iron object which our guide tells us if one can put a coin through a certain slot, good fortune will come to you.  Tian tries it and on the first try the coin sails into the right opening.  I'm glad at least one of us will be thus blessed. :)

Tile work.

After the pagoda burned several hundred years ago, 

plans to rebuild it.

Blurb about those who donated to rebuild.

Moving off to the right side of the courtyard we came to this side area and another Buddha from India off to the left of the statue below:

Some reknowned teacher.

Supposedly one will be a good student

 if your picture is made with him.

Yu-Hsuan, Star and Tian

Christenberry and Stowell children

Next we moved to the portion directly behind the pagoda, where in a huge room sat three giant sized Buddhas - past, present and future, along with benches for the faithful to bow, say a prayer and then go outside to give an offering of fruit, flowers, incense or money.

Beautiful flowers left as offerings

Side view of the pagoda

banyan trees in this area

Christenberry family

two newest members in middle

Stowell family

Miss Star in pink

Tian and Poppi