*****
*****
|
Updated 24th June, 2006
China Mystery Tour One - - Guangzhou Stop Over
Guangzhou is the furthest south I have traveled to on mainland China, and our group stayed at the White Swan Hotel in super luxury. Within easy walking distance from the Guangzhou hotel was a "Free Market Street" where the local people had been allowed to trade since 1979; unmentionable during the Cultural Revolution.
Entering the Guangzhou street market was like entering a furnace, even though there were awnings slung between the walls to provide shade. Quite a variety of goods were on the various stalls, serviceable or edible in nature, with a good selection of ingredients used in Chinese medicine, some of which would have been banned in Western countries.
Clicking the picture will take you to a larger copy which will open in a new window, and closing the window will bring you back here.
|
|
|
In the Guangzhou street market there were inevitably stalls selling foodstuffs, drinks and clothing, the necessities of life, but there were also the "luxuries" of singing birds in cages; goldfish in bowls, beautiful colored pebbles and seashells, soft cuddly children's toys, and an attractive display of bonsai trees.
|
|
A stone slabbed narrow street in Guangzhou where undoubtedly everyone living there knew the life history of every one of their neighbors.
In such streets, in whichever country they may be, a unique communal spirit prevails, where help is readily given when needed. The post woman not only delivers the mail but is the carrier of news, happy or sad.
As new developments take place in China, the old makes way for the new, and the communal spirit fades away.
|
|
|
|
