We had a delicious "spinner dinner" at the oldest restaurant in Guangzhou. It has been in business for over 100 years and it was memorable. The site of the restaurant was in the old entertainment district and it had a beautiful view of one of the branches of the Pearl River. The view was peaceful. We were escorted to one of the many private rooms on the second floor in this spacious, ornate building. As usual, the food was delicious and beautifully presented. This restaurant specializes in tofu dishes. We enjoyed the meal, but are always caught off guard with dishes whose ingredients we cannot recognize. Who would have thought that fried milk, with shrimp, is a delicious dish. Fish is also a specialty in Cantonese cooking.
After, we spent some time in an excellent, new museum.
Then we were off to the Canton Tower. This is the main landmark in Quangzhou and it is a fun visit. The tower is the 3rd tallest tower in the world and it is amazingly graceful. Of course, we all had to test our courage standing on a transparent ledge. I failed. Don was OK.
After another dinner, we sailed down the Pearl River on an evening river cruise. The weather was perfect and the lights of the buildings, including the Canton Tower, were glitzy and showy. It was fun. We exited through a small park that commemorated The First Opium War of the early 1840's and Canton's resistance. There was a large statue of Governor Lin, which luckily I remembered (thank you Dr. Kwong) plus cannon. (Remember, Great Grandfather William Wood was in China with the British navy during the Second Opium War from 1856-1860) We will visit the park again and it will be easy to find since it is right behind Little Mama's fabric mall. That night the greatest attraction at the park was ballroom dancing by a few couples.
As I viewed the little park in this great city, I was struck by how bold, but unrealistic the British were in the 1800's. Their one and only advantage would have been better weapons and ammunition. To think that China would ever change to suit their needs, or be permanently altered for any length of time, was foolish dreaming. And, China remains a nation with a rock-solid dedication to being Chinese. I see this in the student paragraphs that I read. There is great pride, as there should be, in the 5000 year old civilization.
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