Journey to China 2016

 Never knew how much I love to see the Ancestral Temple of Foshan

 My hometown Foshan is located in the northern area of the Pearl river basin, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Guangzhou, China. Last autumn-early morning-it's all still and quiet- it's a magical moment. 

With a long history dating back to approximately 5,000 years, the city gained its name from the three Buddha statues unearthed in this area in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Having a temperate climate with abundant rainfall, it has been a land of fish and rice. Besides fishing and farming, the local craftsmen were also known for their skills in making ceramics. Thriving handicraft industries, commerce, and the arts made Foshan one of the four most famous towns in Tang and Song (960-1279) dynasties. It has a reputation as the home of Chinese ceramic arts, Cantonese operas and martial arts. Step into a world of rich culture and history and discover how this very site was the coveted jewel in the crown when it comes to the preservation of Chinese arts that has influenced the rest of the world.

 Chinese lanterns

Lucky prayer tree

 Temple Garden

 Wanlu Lake

Wanlu Lake

My ancestral home in LongChuan County,Guangdong.

Poem written on ancestral home in LongChuan by an uncle.

 Ancestral home in LongChuan

 Rice paddy in Longchuan

 Preparing a feast at ancestral home in LongChuan

Stuffed tofu, a regional specialty

Fried barbecue pork rind 

 Southern China water chestnet

Produce from the southern China market

Guangdong Dim-Sum

 Field trip to Suzhou

 Reading ten thousand books is not as useful as traveling ten thousand miles. ~ Chinese proverb

Ancient city gateway into Suzhou

 Suzhou and an amazing water village

 Suzhou and an amazing water village

 Ancient garden in Suzhou

Taisi water garden in Suzhou

  A rainy day in Hungzhou, west lake.

 Fellow travelers visiting ancient town in Heyuan county

 Relaxing at Suzhou hotel

Renshou Pagoda, Foshan, China

All photos by Shijun & Charles Munns

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Gardens and Buildings of Southern China

 Zumiao Temple, a richly ornamental building, in the southern province of Guangdong, China. The original buildings of the temple were burnt down in the late Yuan Dynasty and reconstructed in the fifth year of Hongwu Period, Ming Dynasty (1372). Owing to its long history, Chinese called it Zumiao temple.

 Zumiao Temple is an example of the famous foundry and potting handicraft industry in Foshan history. The refinement and beauty of its architecture reflected of the prosperity of ancient Foshan.

Pottery Dragon at the Zumiao Temple. 

 Fabulous wood craft figurines and design at Zumiao Temple.

 Big ridge ceramic figurative tiles. Blue green glazed ceramic tiles represent the rich flavor of traditional Chinese culture.

 Ceramic roof tiles and wood carvings below date from the Qing and Ming dynasties about 350 years ago. The original temple was built in the Song dynasty circa 1050 AD. 

 Ceramic dragon and lion roof tiles. The green tiles below are peonies, a lucky flower in China used in the Qing and Ming dynastic periods.

 Inner courtyard of the Zumiao Temple with more amazing tile work and carvings.

 More rich wood carvings of the Phoenix and peonies on the temple

 Stone carvings at the Zumiao temple.

 A beautiful garden view from a carved stone archway.

 An ancient village in Gaoming region, Guangdong province, China.

 Carved limestone of orchids below and the Chinese symbol for long life above. Date from Qing dynasty about 300 years ago.

 View of an ancient temple from under an ancient banyan tree in Gaoming.

 Ancient building in Gaoming

  Ancient building in Gaoming

 Ancient buildings in Gaoming

 The old gate and road into an old village.

 Gate in the village, about 350 years old.

 Liangyuan gardens in Foshan, China. Built around 1800.

 Liangyuan garden is a perfect space for poetry and traditional Chinese brush painting.

 Liangyuan garden is a perfect space for poetry and traditional Chinese brush painting.

 Chinese calligraphy and painting in the Liangyuan garden. 

 Koi pond garden at the home of a friend in Foshan, Guangdong, China

  Another koi pond garden at the home of a friend in Foshan, Guangdong, China

Koi pond

Green glazed tiles, bamboo and koi are always symbols of a traditional Chinese garden.

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