Xi Hui Park (Courtney)

Yesterday Marcus and I visited Xi Hui Park, which is in Wuxi on the other side of the Grand Canal. We really had no idea what to expect but it turned out to be a very beautiful and large park. The entrance of the park is just a classic. People everywhere selling every imaginable novelty, drinks, icecreams...it was all happening. One of my favourite things around here is "Balloon Men". There are lots of guys that cycle around with enormous bunches of balloons for sale. Sometimes I wonder how they can see around the balloons to ride their bicycles.

Example of a Balloon Man.

What I loved most about this guy though was his very ingenious hat - just a couple of sheets of newspaper with a hole torn out of the middle!


The immediate entrance of the park was quite chaotic, which we feared would set the tone for the rest of the park. In actual fact it was ok. Yes, there was people everywhere but once you got onto the tracks we were mostly by ourselves.

Looking up toward the pagoda.





Of course, random dolphin sculptures...

In the middle is an old pagoda which originally dated from the Ming era. I think it was burnt down in the Qing dynasty (which everything appears to have been) then rebuilt many years later. Anyhoo, we huffed our way up some very steep rock steps to the pagoda, then up some impossibly narrow stairs inside the pagoda. Our journey was rewarded though, with some really stunning views of Wuxi. Looking around made us realise that Wuxi is actually a large city, and the skyline was very impressive.

Oh so steep...

Camo bin!

One very pink pagoda.

Views from the top....

As we walked further into the park we found a large lake. Of course, this being China, no one can just enjoy the natural beauty of something without there being stalls, music and some sort of amusement activity. So the lake was covered in paddle boats, you know the sort, we've all been on them. There were boats with duck heads on them, ones shaped like Chinese rooves, even one that had a plane hanging over it.

After this we had the bright idea to go on the chair lift. We categorically stated before coming to China that in no way would we go on any chair lifts. The whole idea of a chairlift being operated to normal safety standards around here just doesn't fit. But, it was included in the ticket price and after some umming and ahhing we went and lined up. Let it be known that I do not like chairlifts normally. This was no exception, even though it was quite low to the ground.

Ok, so see this chick...she is walking down the mountain whilst casually wearing 4 inch heels!!! What are these girls thinking? This is endemic of China - girls dressed up and always in heels. And I mean always, doesn't matter what activity they are involved in. I often think to myself, these Chinese girls aren't as small as I thought they would be. Then I remember - oh, that's because they are all in stillettos!

Got to love the hair on this guy. So over the top. Although he looks Japanese, many Chinese boys also sport some spectacular looks.

And finally some general kookiness....

No body of water is complete without children in bubbles! This little kid was so cute, he wasn't quite sure what to do once in the bubble.

Nap time!

And lastly, these very amusing split pants that all the babies wear. Normally they are seen without a nappy underneath. They must work as so many people use them, but god it's funny just seeing all these little bums running around!