Oct 30 2019

Yue Yuan Beer House 粤园


3 Aomen Rd, Heping, 澳门路3号
Tianjin, China

Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s a Thai restaurant. Cozy and pretty cute. We had lunch there when visiting Zhou’s former residence – which is on the ground floor of the building. The food n service are ok, above average.

   


Oct 30 2019

Zhou Xuexi’s old residence


Macau Road 澳门路
Tianjin, China

From the Museum, we drove to Aomen Lu from Luoyang Road 洛阳道, visited Zhou Xuexi’s former home, a row of red brick buildings – 900 meters NE of Changde Dao. Zhou had four buildings but many had been demolished.

It’s built in 1915 and Zhou lived here for 30 some years. Zhou passed away in 1947 in Beijing where he also maintained homes.

At the curb of Luoyang and Aomen, there is a street vendor selling veggies. A popular restaurant 粤园 operates on the ground level. From the name I’d think it’s a Cantonese but it’s Thai.

    


Oct 30 2019

Chongqing Dao 重庆道 

One of the Five Great Avenues 天津五大道 in Tianjin, China. In the old times, east of Hebei Road was called Cambridge Road 河北路以东原为剑桥道 and west of Hebei was Edinburgh Road  河北路以西为原爱丁堡道.


Oct 30 2019

TJ General Mint 造币总厂


137 Zhongshan Road 中山路
Tianjin

This is the original site of the General Mint of Feudal Chinese Ministry of Revenue, founded by Zhou Xuexi after Boxer Uprising. It’s on the verge to be demolished, even it’s a registered historical relic. A few concerned people are rallying all they could to stop it.

Having just passed by the Ancient Culture Street, which is a fake – newly built, I wonder why don’t they preserve the General Mint instead? The area is large with so many historical structures …

To the brave few who are trying to preserve it: good luck and be the force with you.

The site is massive, bigger than the Zhongshan Park (中山公园), which is located to its northeast corner. And is on the verge to be demolished. Notice of Compensation and Resettlement Plan for Non-residential Houses 非住宅房屋征收补偿安置方案 is prominent posted – to the upper left corner of the photo below.

  

The small path (it’s called Yuwei Road 宇纬路 on the nw side of the Zhongshan Road) to the right of the facade (inscribed by Wu Dingchang 吴鼎昌, an industrialist) goes in. On the right side, going straight is a small community with a security booth and to the right is where we want to visit – the old mint.

… beautiful courtyards and houses, although they’re all dilapidated …

A gentleman with raspy voice came out of his house and we stuck up a lengthy conversation. He proudly pointed to his windows “they’re so unique, you don’t see them nowadays any more …”. He’s from (a part of) 254 army hospital. After a little chatting, he invited us in. The old house has high ceiling and many details are intact.


Then the raspy voice led us to the two-story grey structure, #78. “It’s their office building,” he said.

It’s vacant now. Above the door, the engraving is barely visible “化学室” Chemistry Room. “There used to be a 鹤 crane but was smashed.

To the left side building, there is a room, probably added recently, long after 1976. Apparently a family is living there and they used the thin space between the building and wall as their kitchen.

 

cars or carts, pedaled and gasoline fueled …

I like doors and windows, obviously …

… oh … the undies in the courtyards …


Oct 29 2019

The disappearing history

Looking for old information, I went to Xicheng West End District Archives.

To remake their cities (and perhaps to show their achievements while in the office …) and aggressive developers, old historical remnants are being demolished, fast.

Qingdao: the 18 meter high fire watchtower on GuanXiang Road (望火楼; 1905-2009) on the western edge of the old observatory, and the train station (1901-1991) – the current train station is moved back 15 meters.

Ji’Nan: the old train station (1912-1992; by German architect 赫尔曼舍尔) and the two story commercial building (八卦楼; 1914-97).

 


Oct 28 2019

Trained in China, 2019


Trains in China … This year, the


Oct 28 2019

Wuhan 武汉

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It’s the capital of Hubei province with 11 million people. The three cities (武汉三镇) made up Wuhan are: Wuchang 武昌, Hankou 汉口 and Hanyang 汉阳. When mentioning Wuhan, its bridge (wiki) comes to my mind easily. And Chairman Mao’s swim across the river. Amount numerous historical events, are Wuchang Uprising (wiki) that established PR China in 1912. Not sure Li Na, a native who won two grand slams (French’11 and Aussie’14) could count historical but it’s an event for me. And most recently, the corona virus.

Two wiki photos: 1864 map and the foreign concessions on Hankow Bund c. 1900. 

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Oct 27 2019

Visiting the temple 元和堂, 2019

Liudun, 刘墩村 合肥市庐江县矾山镇刘墩街 (X086县道)  
Hefei, Anhui, China

I visit the Temple after breakfast. It’s a short drive from the HongFu Hotel. We made a pit stop at Zhuanqiao Secondary School (Middle School 砖桥中学).

            

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Oct 27 2019

Zhuanqiao Secondary School 砖桥中学

X064县道 刘墩街
Chaohu, Lujiang, Anhui

Going in from the hotel, and the street scenes between the School and the Temple. There is a big stone, donated by the Class of 1975, naming the area as Dream Chasing Dream Chasing Jujube Garden 追梦枣园.

 


Oct 25 2019

Hefei 2019


A familiar scene, only in Hefei … 2016

Hefei, capital of Anhui province is added to my 2019 China trip after I arrived in China. (Hankou – Hefei South D638 16:41-18:24