The photos below were taken in Zhouzhuang, a small town not that far from Shanghai in
China. I post the photo of
Zhouzhuang Wanshan Pig Trotter not that long ago. For today, I think these three old house are matched the theme of
Watery Wednesday and
Window Views. Zhouzhuang is famous as a small Chinese
Venice, crossed by canals and humpbacked bridges. With its 900 year history, Zhouzhuang has hundreds of stone houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
It was really a beautiful place before. But I think I don’t like it now, I don’t like the many other places in China now, with mixed feelings. Just like Zhouzhuang, you can’t really find the old and simple beauty of this small town which has 900 years history. There is absolutely nothing real in this small and crowd area, those so called old buildings are new renovated with a lot fake stuffs, every shop is a tourist trap, I suppose all my friends who know me well could imagine that I should be used to this since I have been travelling all over China. Butt the fact is that I have seen the beauty of Zhouzhuang and many several wonderful places like JiuZhaiGou in SiChuan, Shang lira in Yunnan, there were so beautiful by its nature and culture. By now, China has become such a strong country and too many tourist flood everywhere in China, Only money is shinning in most of the greedy Chinese’s eyes. Zhouzhuang is just one of the example, multitudes of little tourist shops selling all cheap garbage along the street, those very unfriendly sellers, all are staring at you if you touch their items but not buying. The ugly side is the way they treat the western people and their same faces Chinese people, I just don’t understand a smiling face can be changed in a few seconds when they turn around their face to you. I am sad to say that as a Chinese too. Anyway, this is
my world. Here are some random thoughts about this small town which is still look pretty in my photos. I will post some other photos of Zhouzhuang next week, maybe, if I still have mood to look back my many trips to China. LOL.
10 comments:
happy WW!
Those are good side photos from china. I was only able to travel through some cities there but not in the sides.
painted sky: http://jifphotojournal.blogspot.com/
These are very cool pics!
I really like the boats in the second one.
Feel free to visit me: Picture This . . .
That's a lovely place. I didn't know China had a version of Venice. So lovely.
I've been to China and I am quite surprised with our similar observations especially those sellers who seem to get quite upset if you touch their items and you decide to not buy. Still, there's still some beauty left in China and i just hope its people will try to retain its old charm.
Interesting that China has canals. Good photos.
Hi G.L, thank you for this nice post. I think I took a water taxi/tour boat ride to your Zhouzhuang. We rode the high speed train out to where we could catch the boat.
I hadn't realized how touristy it had become as I didn't know the previous history.
Thank you for visiting my Six Word Saturday post. Time flies, I am working on one for this Saturday now.
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We will have to compare travel notes some day. I have been to every one of our 50 states and various and many places in Europe. Australia is on my bucket list of places to visit.
:-)
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I know what you mean about changes! This is beautiful but things can take a turn. The pictures I took from Mauna Road on the Big Island (Saddle Road and the new skywatch are a perfect example. It used to be the day of the cowboys (Parker Ranch). Gorse came in and has taken over so much of the land that the cattle kept impeccably manicured. It's politics and greed! We pay the highest taxes almost anywhere in the U.S. but its all you see along these beautiful roads are kapu..(keep out) signs! It's sad!
Great photos! They seem to capture the spirit of the place.
I will definitely be coming back to check out the rest of your China entries! Wow! I lived there for 3 years in Beijing, teaching art, English and writing, traveling a little when I could. I absolutely loved it and have written many entries in my blog about my time there as well--just look through the Archived Posts (upper left corner) in my blog at http://cherylsolis.bravejournal.com and do leave comments! The blog is actually part of my art studio site, http://www.angelilluminations.com where you can look at and shop for art, send FREE Art E-Cards, read the blog, check out new works and much more. Come take a look and sign our Guestbook!
Thanks for the great read!
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