Falling in love with an alien city
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
To fall in love with a person or with a city or with anything else is nothing but a human feeling. In my case, it just happened with an alien city, that too, only recently. I cannot forget the 20 days I stayed in Guangzhou during the Asian Games 2010. Possibly, I spent the best time of my life in those 20 days.
During the Asian Games, I never had to think about pollution, noisy streets and crowded buses. Everything that came across in Guangzhou was beautiful and eye-soothing.
Guangzhou is called the "Flower city" in China. It is well-known for its annual flower show during the Spring festival. Flower shows are held on pavements or parks to attract citizens half a month before the festival. It has become a tradition for families in Guangzhou to go to the flower markets together on the New Year's Eve. Locals buy flowers from the markets because they think the flowers can bring them prosperity and happiness in the next year.
Guangzhou, also known as Canton and Kwangchow, is the capital of Guangdong province. It is the main political, economic and cultural centre of South China. Canton fair, the biggest trade fair in China, is held twice a year in the city in April and October and the 16th Asian Games was also held in Guangzhou.
Located in the north of the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong. Lying close to Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macau, Guangzhou has a preponderant geographic location which makes it a prime economic center of China. The Pearl River, the third longest river of China, runs through Guangzhou and ends at the South China Sea.
Pearl River, the Dragon Boat racing centre has a history of over a thousand years. In Ming dynasty, the racing is used to be held on the sea surface around Haizhu Island in Pearl River. Nowadays, the dragon boat racing has become a public racing for all kinds of people at home and abroad.
During the night, you can experience the Pearl River Night Cruise on the third longest river in China for enthusiasts of history and culture.
With an area of 7434.4 square kilometers (2870 square miles), Guangzhou city is divided into ten districts; they are Yuexiu, Haizhu, Liwan, Tianhe, Baiyun, Huangpu, Huadu, Panyu, Luogang and Nansha district. It has a population of more than 11 million people, including 3.7 million immigrants.
With a history of 2,000 years, Guangzhou was the capital of three dynasties: Nan Yue (South Yue) (203B.C-111B.C), Nan Han (South Han)(917A.D-971A.D) and Nanming (South Ming)(1644-1662).
If you want to have an overview of China's history, you can pay a visit to Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King which has more than 2000 years' history.
In 2010, the Canton Tower (Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower), which bridges the old and new Guangzhou together, was added onto the list of Guangzhou landmarks.
I was fascinated by the culture in Guangzhou. The blend of different cultures is obviously present in this city. You can find that slums and crumbling buildings is rounded by luxurious high rise buildings and large mansions.
In my opinion, the different cultures and different lifestyles have enriched the city.
Guangzhou may not be a comfortable city for living as are Hangzhou and Xiamen, but it is a city full of opportunities and surprises. It is not a city that you will fall in love at first sight, but it is a city that you can spend the whole life's time exploring.
During the Asian Games, I never had to think about pollution, noisy streets and crowded buses. Everything that came across in Guangzhou was beautiful and eye-soothing.
Guangzhou is called the "Flower city" in China. It is well-known for its annual flower show during the Spring festival. Flower shows are held on pavements or parks to attract citizens half a month before the festival. It has become a tradition for families in Guangzhou to go to the flower markets together on the New Year's Eve. Locals buy flowers from the markets because they think the flowers can bring them prosperity and happiness in the next year.
Guangzhou, also known as Canton and Kwangchow, is the capital of Guangdong province. It is the main political, economic and cultural centre of South China. Canton fair, the biggest trade fair in China, is held twice a year in the city in April and October and the 16th Asian Games was also held in Guangzhou.
Located in the north of the Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong. Lying close to Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macau, Guangzhou has a preponderant geographic location which makes it a prime economic center of China. The Pearl River, the third longest river of China, runs through Guangzhou and ends at the South China Sea.
Pearl River, the Dragon Boat racing centre has a history of over a thousand years. In Ming dynasty, the racing is used to be held on the sea surface around Haizhu Island in Pearl River. Nowadays, the dragon boat racing has become a public racing for all kinds of people at home and abroad.
During the night, you can experience the Pearl River Night Cruise on the third longest river in China for enthusiasts of history and culture.
With an area of 7434.4 square kilometers (2870 square miles), Guangzhou city is divided into ten districts; they are Yuexiu, Haizhu, Liwan, Tianhe, Baiyun, Huangpu, Huadu, Panyu, Luogang and Nansha district. It has a population of more than 11 million people, including 3.7 million immigrants.
With a history of 2,000 years, Guangzhou was the capital of three dynasties: Nan Yue (South Yue) (203B.C-111B.C), Nan Han (South Han)(917A.D-971A.D) and Nanming (South Ming)(1644-1662).
If you want to have an overview of China's history, you can pay a visit to Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King which has more than 2000 years' history.
In 2010, the Canton Tower (Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower), which bridges the old and new Guangzhou together, was added onto the list of Guangzhou landmarks.
I was fascinated by the culture in Guangzhou. The blend of different cultures is obviously present in this city. You can find that slums and crumbling buildings is rounded by luxurious high rise buildings and large mansions.
In my opinion, the different cultures and different lifestyles have enriched the city.
Guangzhou may not be a comfortable city for living as are Hangzhou and Xiamen, but it is a city full of opportunities and surprises. It is not a city that you will fall in love at first sight, but it is a city that you can spend the whole life's time exploring.