BUDDHIST TEMPLE/OLD CHEN HOUSE/JADE MARKET

by the banyan tree

We started out the day in the pouring rain. The skies were dark and the temp dropped at least 10 degrees. Where did our beautiful weather go? Jocelyn and Kathy our new guides told us some interesting facts on the way to The Chen House, The Provincial Arts and Crafts Store and The Buddhist Temple. Did you know that Guangzhou City in Guandon Province is known as The Southern Gate. Guangzhou is the 3rd largest city in China. Beijing and Shanghai are the 1st and 2nd. Guangzhou City also has the 5th largest population with 10 million. Chongqing is the largest with 31 million. This is where Lili is from!! (Hi! Lili, Annie can't wait to meet you!) Most people would never travel to Guangzhou except for families adopting or attending the annual trade show each year.


We started the tour with The Chen House. Lisa and I (and Grandpa Bob and Grandma Jane)braved the rain while Erich and Bob stayed on the bus with Alexa, Annie and Jack. They were sound asleep. The Chen family name is the biggest name in Guandon Province. They are a very powerful family. The family built a temple 100 years ago to worship their ancestors. The temple took 5 years to build. It had beautiful wood and stone carvings all over the house and a large courtyard in the middle. There were art exhibits on display including: ivory carving, embroidery, porcelain, Quin Dynasty Furniture, Chinese Paintings, silk weaving and paper cutting. The porcelain is also made here but most famously from Annie's province Jiangxi and her city Jingdzhen. I bought Annie a silk pant outfit. It is darling!!



The ivory carvings were amazing. It was legal to purchase and take home ivory until 1989 when it became illegal. These carvings have been on display for many years. Next, we went to The Provincial Arts and Crafts Store. They took us to a nice place that was trustworthy to purchase Jade, meaning it was Grade A and not a knock-off! Jade is a very special treasure in China much like gold is in the USA. The Chinese believe that Jade can protect your sole when you die. It is also very pretty. We just browsed while Jack enjoyed going up and down the escalator. He also enjoyed blowing many kisses to the jewelers. They were getting such a kick out of him!

We then went to The Buddhist temple. Can you see that it leans to the left. It was very interesting. A few couples had their babies blessed by The Buddhist Monk. We just watched while Jack hit every puddle in sight. A Chinese woman bent over and rolled up Jack's pants and gave Erich a "look". We have been getting lost of "looks" these past few weeks.

Jack is determined to fall in the water with the fish.

Annie was reading the pamphlet. She is so smart!

There is a great playroom at The White Swan Hotel. Jack went right for the kitchen set, sorry daddy!

Doesn't Annie look so much bigger, already?

Stay tuned for Annie's height and weight. We go to the doctor. Love, Kari