We spent several days in Yangzhou where we explored many sites in this beautiful city. Yangzhou dates back 2,500 years. Its known for a picturesque Grand Canal. We learned that by the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) Yangzhou became one of the most economically prosperous cities in the world. In Yangzhou we took a night boat cruise on the canal. At night the walls of the canal and many city sites are lit up in many colors. The day following our visit to the Children's Welfare Institute, we visited a scenic park (right next to the CWI) where we toured a small zoo and got to see the panda bears. Shaelin was particularly happy about this! We then had picnic in a open area where there were many activites and performances for us. There was kite flying (though unfortunately it wasn't really windy enough for our kites to fly). The performances included Dragon puppet dances, Chinese yo-yo performers, and hand puppetry. There were also several craft tables set up for the kids to enjoy including the most popular - a candymaker who fashioned the most artistic candy we've ever seen! His creations didn't last long though since they were quickly eaten. We spent several hours at the park and had a terrific time. This video shows some of these highlights...We also took a boat ride on the famous Slender West Lake in Yangzhou. This is a gorgeous lake that is considered the most scenic place in Yangzhou and, we learned, has inspired many poems. The lake is lined with kiosks, pavillions, and small bridges. The most famous attractions at the lake are the White Pagoda, the Five Pavilion Bridge, Xiaojin Hill, Fuzhuang, and 24 Bridge, built in white marble that is 24 meters long and contains 24 steps. The video below shows some of these extraordinary sites…
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