China-A new life

Exploring Guangzhou - Winter 2016

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First bicycle ride to Shamian Island. Its where the original US Embassy to China was located and the US Consulate (now White Swan Hotel) before the present consulate was built near the Mall of the World.

Exploring Guangzhou - Winter 2016

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A map of Shamian Island. Originally the land that makes up the island was attached to the mainland. For security the British dug a canal on one side to make it an island.

Exploring Guangzhou - Winter 2016

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This is the Renmin Bridge which crosses the Pearl River to Shamian Island. The view is looking east toward the city center of Guangzhou.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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This is at the entrance of White Cloud Mountain (Baiyun Mountain). Had a good ride here with my co-worker Phil. As we found out, no bicycles are allowed up the road. Electric carts or walking only. Ill get back here one day for a nice hike.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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This photo is taken just down the hill from the entrance. Their is a small cable car traveling overhead one can ride to the top of Baiyun Mountain if one desires not to walk.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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Canton Tower on a nice blue sky day.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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Walkway / bicycle path along south side of Pearl River. Tall building of Guangzhou in background in a layer of smog. Some Smog days are bad, but never as bad as Beijing. For the most part Guangzhou has very few Smog days throughout the year.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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Dafushan Forest Park: Facilities workers at the consulate got a day off to have a great picnic, team building and a relaxing day away from work.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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After our lunch and team building we got to explore the park either by bicycle or on foot.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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I of course took a bicycle, saw many great sights, got lost on the parks many roads and arrived about 10 min. late for the bus ride back to the consulate. (They did wait for me)

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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Played frisbee with some Chinese co-workers, some who had never thrown one previously.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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Those that did not want to come to the gathering had to stay and work. Always take time off if it is available.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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During our return trip from Dafushan Forest Park, we passed this strange building.

Exploring Guangzhou - Spring 2016

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Please go to the following links for more info on this unusually building.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangzhou_Circle http://news.sky.com/story/building-with-hole-is-for-flashy-rich-people-10423163

Guangzhou Bicycle ride - June, 25 2016

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Started out early today, headed for Ecology Park College Campus. On the way there I came across Haizhu Wetland. It is on Shiliugang road.in the Haizhu District of Guangzhou.

Guangzhou Bicycle ride - June, 25 2016

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Haizhu Wetland, originally known as the Ten-thousand sand-acre Orchard, is located in the southeast of Haizhu District, Guangzhou, serving as a crucial spot in the southern section of the new city axis. Covering a total of some 1,100 hectares, Haizhu Wetland is hailed as the “green heart” of Guangzhou. The core area of Haizhu Wetland, which covers 869 hectares, has been designated as the construction space for the pilot project of Guangdong Haizhu National Wetland Park. When completed, Guangdong Haizhu National Wetland Park will be the largest and most beautiful of all the inner-city national parks in China’s mega cities.

Guangzhou Bicycle ride - June, 25 2016

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As an embodiment of the thousand-year wetland farming culture in the Pearl River Delta, Haizhu Wetland is a mesmerizing natural resort that is perfectly woven into the urban tapestry of Guangzhou. Of biosphere significance and ecological importance, Haizhu Wetland is a crucial passage for bird migration, the birthplace of Lingnan-style fruits and the aggregation of distinctive Lingnan folk customs

Guangzhou Bicycle ride - June, 25 2016

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As the core area of Haizhu Eco-city, Haizhu Wetland is a most vivid testimony to the endeavor of developing Guangzhou into a culturally-advanced and eco-friendly city famous for its “blossoming flowers, green space and crystal-clear water”.

Guangzhou Bicycle ride - June, 25 2016

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The sections of Haizhu Wetland that are open to the public include Haizhu Lake, Haizhu Wetland Phase 1 and Haizhu Wetland Phase 2. Visitors to Haizhu Wetland are able to take in the joy and pleasure that a fruit-bearing wetland park has to offer – “natural beauty, a sound eco-system and unspoiled landscape”.Haizhu Wetland is set to become the Shangri-La of Guangzhou, accessible, reachable and enjoyable to local residents and tourists.

Guangzhou Bicycle ride - June, 25 2016

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Almost made it to the college campus, but I came across the Guangzhou International Bio-Island about 1/4 mile from my destination. College campus next time.The island is located 12 km from the city center in the south east of Guangzhou and covers 1.82 km². It is 2.8 km long and 0.9 km wide. A subway line and a parallel running car tunnel connects the island with both the north of the city and the new exhibition center and the southern university town. The whole complex is designed in the sense of an ecological park. The infrastructure and building the bio-industrial parks are built-polluting and energy-efficient modern methods. For biotechnological research and development and production a total of 28 building complexes to be built on an area of ​​722,700 m² with an area of ​​1,450,000 m². Additionally, there are service facilities with a floor space of 300,000 m², restaurants, apartments and a 5-star hotel. A paved path Shore (Greenway) can be used around the island with electric bicycles; car traffic is only to select locations possible.

Guangzhou Bicycle ride - June, 25 2016

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Looking toward the two bridges leading to College Campus and to the Bio-Island which i am now on. Great bicycle paths. One, two, three, and four person bicycles available to rent.