TENG WANG GE

A beautiful day.

First off, HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF OUR FOREVER FAMILY DAY TO AIDAN AND SAM!!!!! We love you boys more than fireworks and ice cream and can't wait to see you next week! We will celebrate in grand style.

This day began with Juni and Daddy chilling on the bed in our hotel room. See, progress is being made. 

 Getting ready to head out to Teng Wang Ge. 

Juni looked so amazingly cute in her little red trench coat, fuzzy white pants and pink bear hat but she went into stratosphere cute when we added the ladybug leggings (thanks Nana) and the ladybug shoes to top off the outfit.

 Juni loves looking at the pond in the lobby which has loads of gold fish waiting eagerly to be fed. The lobby itself is actually a thing to behold with cold, clean marble everywhere, giant shimmering chandeliers and a full open restaurant with couches embedded in bling. 

TENG WANG GE

Teng Wang Ge is Prince Teng's Pavillion and it dates back to 659 during the Tang Dynasty. It was built for the elite classes in China as a place to hold ceremonies and banquets. The architecture is highly detailed and every surface, both inside and out, has been intricately painted in bright vivid hues. Pictures really do not do the place justice. There are six floors and each one has its share of beautiful historic and artistic works. The top floors have wrap-around balconies which offer unbelievable views of the city of Nanchang. The building itself stood in stark contrast to the surrounding area which is either under construction or already built up with modern high rises sporting slick glassy surfaces. At least there was a bit of a garden and stone walls serving as a buffer between the serene historic version of China you see in story books and the frenetic industrialized/commercialized society of today. Steve, Juni and I had a wonderful time gazing at it's beauty.

Look closely and you will see a city skyline beyond the smog.

Every square inch inside of the pavilion was covered in artwork. The ceiling of the top of the structure had this incredible dome that swirled in like wooden blades. The photos make it look flat and painted rather than what it was which was more like giant wooden dominos. Every floor had different types of artwork like painted tiles, ceramic teapots, giant steel buddha statues, acrylic paintings and ferocious lion sculptures.  

I laughed when I saw this mural because it looks like he is holding the little red egg rattle that we gave to Juni. You may have seen it in some of the photos. She has been playing with it a lot in the last few days.

Speaking of Juni.... she just keeps getting cuter. How is that possible? And look, there's that red egg.

After our visit to the pavilion all the families went out to lunch at a nearby restaurant. We decided on Chinese for a change of pace. Then Juni and I went back to the room for a nap and Steve went and met with a calligrapher who made a giant scroll for Juni with her name in Chinese characters. After our nap we decided to go for a stroll in the neighborhoods outside the hotel. I loved it because we were no longer following the itinerary and also because unlike the Walmarts and tourist attractions of the past few days, it was fabulous to see a tiny glimpse of what real life in China must be like outside the confines of our multi-star hotel and air-conditioned buses. We would love to come back someday and really explore.

The alleyways are lined with tiny shops and I think families live in the backs of them. This family was cooking their dinner just outside the doorway and grinned when I asked to take their picture. Followed of course by a Xie Xie from me.

Tomorrow brings a new adventure where we are supposed to go to a people's park where folks do things like Tai Chi and practice calligraphy using giant brushes and water on the pavement. Should be fun but for now, Steve and I are about to fall over from exhaustion. 

 Love to everyone back home.