Then the rain began to fall. The following day, we got up at a reasonable hour and had breakfast. I had chosen to visit Liang Yuan Gardens, which were about a thirty-minute walk away. I offered to take Peter, which would have required a DiDi ride, but he declined due to the weather, so I went alone on foot.
I used A-maps to navigate my way. A-maps is China's version of Google Maps and functions effectively within the country. However, it's not very reliable outside China, making it less useful for planning in advance. The walk was incredibly hot and humid, and the sky grew darker, signifying an impending thunderstorm, but I persevered. At one point, I passed a Hospital of Chinese Medicine with some medical-themed statues outside. According to A.I., this statue pertains to ear cleaning, but I thought it was related to eye examinations. Who knows?
I also saw some charming old village homes that had been beautifully restored. This area featured displays, cafes, and shops selling lanterns and lucky red charms. Central Foshan is indeed a lovely location.
It cost me 10 CNY (about £1.10) to enter the Liang Yuan Gardens, and I purchased my ticket from an office by the entrance. The Liang Yuan Gardens are among the "Four Famous Gardens of Guangdong" and date back to the Qing Dynasty. They were previously owned by the Liang family, established by Liang Airu, a prosperous salt merchant who successfully passed the imperial examination. He had two nephews, Liang Jiuhua and Liang Jiutu, who were well-known scholars in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, often drawing inspiration for their works from these gardens.
At the height of their prosperity, the Liang family gardens spanned over two hundred acres, but over time, due to war and turmoil, their fortunes waned. The gardens fell into neglect, with parts sold off and others left in disrepair. It wasn't until around 1982 that the Foshan Municipal Government decided to reclaim and restore the gardens to their former glory.
Though I have visited several Chinese gardens before, I don't consider myself an expert. These gardens were truly beautiful, featuring various old stone structures, some of which likely used to be homes. Some buildings housed exhibitions, others had a small collection of furniture, while a few were empty. I particularly liked the ones with colorful windows.
The gardens were partitioned into different areas by walls, connected by doorways, some of which had lion sculptures as guardians. There was a lake populated with golden carp, and I found the reflections in the water intriguing, showcasing the nearby modern buildings surrounding the gardens.
One impressive bridge spanned the lake, and numerous paths enveloped it, along with several interesting rock formations. The area included fountains in the lake and several pavilions for resting. A smaller pond was adorned with beautiful water lilies, and a mini pagoda allowed for a view over the pond.
Naturally, there were numerous vibrant flowers throughout the gardens. A couple was dressed up, taking wedding photos. I was about halfway through my exploration when it suddenly started pouring rain. Luckily, I had a large umbrella borrowed from the hotel, so I continued to explore for a bit longer. However, as the rain intensified, I found it difficult to take photos and had to wade through puddles on the paths. By that point, I had seen most of the gardens, so I decided to head back home.
I took a slightly different route and came across another beautiful temple called Renshou Temple, which was only about a ten-minute walk from the temple I had visited the day before. In better weather, I would have ventured inside, but with the thunder and lightning, I focused on getting back to the hotel. The ground was extremely slippery, and I witnessed someone fall off their e-motorbike, but fortunately, others stepped in to help.
Once back at the hotel, I returned to our room. The stormy weather continued throughout the day, preventing us from going out, and naturally, the outdoor pool was closed. There were still many activities to explore in Foshan; for instance, I had hoped to visit an ancient pottery kiln, but the weather kept thwarting our plans. I believe we will need to return at a more favorable time of year.
In the evening, we had dinner in the lounge. It felt similar to our first night, as we ordered from a menu and helped ourselves to soups, salads, desserts, and drinks. Fortunately, there were other guests present, and we struck up a conversation with two men nearby—one was a Chinese resident of Hong Kong, and the other a white South African from Johannesburg. When we mentioned having visited Johannesburg and staying in the city center, he was shocked, as many people who know the city are often surprised to hear that. He reckoned Johannesburg was improving, however.
The next day, we were supposed to travel to Shenzhen
Then the rain began to fall.
