People in Zhongshan with Patriotic Flags on National Day

Yesterday was the National Day of the People's Republic of China (PRC). For many it meant the beginning of a long holiday period. For many others, it meant the beginning of a busy period serving people on holiday. Whether due to travel or lack thereof, some Chinese are now in Zhongshan in Guangdong province, a city named after a famous person born in one of its villages. He happens to be the founding father of the Republic of China (ROC), which preceded the PRC and continues on in lands more commonly known as Taiwan. The whole ROC in Taiwan thing does not thrill most in the PRC, to say the least, but people here have positive views of Sun Zhongshan, also known as Sun Yat-sen.

While walking around Zhongshan (the city) yesterday, I saw some examples of people showing a bit of patriotic spirit with PRC flags, whether by carrying them around, placing them on their vehicle, or selling them. Not surprisingly, I didn't see any ROC flags. Below are photos of the examples I happened to notice and managed to photograph in the order I encountered them. The flags aren't always easily visible and one case involves non-living battery-powered individuals. Nonetheless, the photos capture some of the holiday spirit, people, and sights yesterday in Zhongshan. For those familiar with Zhongshan, all of the photos were taken at locations on either Yuelai Road, Fuhua Road, or the pedestrian street on Sun Wen West Road. For those less familiar with Chinese history, Sun Wen is yet another name for Sun Zhongshan. One can only imagine what he would say were he in Zhongshan city today.

Scenes from the Three Lamps District in Macau

A few weeks ago an uncharged second battery meant I couldn't take any photos where I ended yet another day in Macau. Two days ago during the late afternoon I returned to the same streets, this time with ample stored electricity. Much remained the same, though more lanterns hung above due to the recent Mid-Autumn Festival. Metropolasia provides a description of the vibrant area in Freguesia de Santo António I was happy to visit yet again:

Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, at the heart of the historic "Three Lamps District", is not really a sightseeing spot as such, but it is one of Macau's most popular shopping areas and one of the best places to see how the locals live, and experience the city's day-to-day life in its most unpretentious form.

The roundabout and its offshoots are packed with small shops, boutiques and street vendors that specialize in inexpensive clothes, mostly surpluses and seconds of genuine brand-names, and there is also a decent choice of authentic eateries and street food vendors around, to take care of the culinary side.

After the first photo of the Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, the following photos appear in the order I took them. They capture some of the goods for sale, environment, and life in Macau's Three Lamps District — not far from the historic districts and casinos frequented by tourists.

Resting in Zhuhai

Gongbei Harbor in Zhuhai at low tide

Fun at the Sewing Machine and an Unfortunate Encounter With Metal in Zhuhai

Last night after doing my best to make the most of a buffet dinner, I saw two children outside amusing themselves around a sewing machine. Fear not, it was not an example of child labor. There are numerous people who offer inexpensive sewing services in this part of Zhuhai. They always look much older.

I share the photo in part because it reminds me of a happier period last night. Not long after seeing the children, my shin made contact with a metal object firmly connected to the ground. I wish I had noticed it earlier, because if I had I would have chosen to avoid gashing myself. Since then, life has been interesting in a number of unexpected ways, some of which I could do without. After two trips to Macau in a single day, too much blood, and too little sleep, all is now OK.

And yes, the post I keep delaying will be delayed further. Really, I have a good excuse and a story to tell as well, if I can motivate myself to relive it. In the immediate future, I simply look forward to following the doctor's orders and get some rest.

Peace from Zhuhai

Despite earlier claims, I will not be posting anything tomorrow. In an act of atonement, and reflection as well, I offer a peaceful scene from today at Jingshan Park in Zhuhai.

A Dinner Break in Zhuhai With a View

View in Zhuhai of Macau across the Qianshan Waterway (water not visible; much more visible here)

Today I saw some of the construction occurring in Wanzai, Zhuhai. More about that later.

A Dragonfly Photobomb in Zhuhai

While I faced west on the Changsheng Bridge (昌盛大桥) today, a dragonfly made an unexpected appearance in a photo I took as the sun lowered in Zhuhai's sky.

It reminded me of a dragonfly which similarly photobombed a photo I took of the Fengyu Bridge at Yuejin Lake in Changsha, Hunan. In both cases, the dragonflies were welcome.

A small portion of a crane appears in the upper-left corner of the photo as well. More about that construction project in a later post.

A Greener View from a Pedestrian Bridge in Shanghai

Although they all included trees, for readers who were hoping for something even greener than the five photos taken from a pedestrian bridge in Shanghai, here is yet another view from the bridge:

The man walking his dog is an added bonus.

Just another Shanghai scene . . .

Views from a Pedestrian Bridge Near the Shanghai Railway Station

Recently I shared a brief story about some people I met on a pedestrian bridge while taking photos near the Shanghai Railway Station. To offer a few more everyday Shanghai scenes, below are views from the bridge, which surrounds an entire intersection, presented in a counter-clockwise order.

Hengfeng Road looking southeast

Tianmu West Road looking east

Pedestrian area leading towards the Shanghai Railway Station

Hengfeng Road looking northwest

Tianmu West Road looking west

The second photo includes a sliver of a gold-tinted building with a large number of mobile phones for sale. More about that building later . . .

A Non-International View of Zhuhai from Macau

To balance things out with the previous post, here is a view of Zhuhai from Coloane Village in Macau:

Once again, I would recommend against swimming from one side to the other.

Air pollution obscures some of the details, but if you look closely at the mountains, you can see wind turbines, which struck me as both hopeful and ironic.

A Break at Yangzhong Green Space

Within walking distance, a greener and more peaceful place in Shanghai than Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street for a break:

Another Break at Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

Yesterday in Shanghai:

You Deserve a Break Today at Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

Today in Shanghai:

Scenes from University of South China and Xiangtan University

In the spirit of the shouts and photos of recent university graduates in China, I will share some photos I took during brief visits a couple of months ago to two universities in Hunan province — University of South China in Hengyang and Xiangtan University in Xiangtan. They are focused mostly on buildings and landscape and represent only a small part of each university. Many of the taller buildings in the background of the University of South China photos are from the surrounding neighborhood. Like many other universities in China, Xiangtan University was not located in an urban area.


University of South China:












Xiangtan University: