Xuzhou China - first day

Arrived fairly late last night, so straight to bed. It had been 30 hours with flights, lay overs etc. So bed was the first priority. 

Driving around today with our driver, Richard, and our amazing guide, Kevin, I have to say that Xuzhou is an absolutely beautiful and very clean city. It was overcast and rainy, well drizzly today, but that didn't stop us. 

Xuzhou Yunlong Lake - Cloud Dragon Lake

This is the 'in water corridor' - part of the pathway started to sink so they put up these aquarium walls and you can walk out into the lake which is filled with colourful carp

Maribel, Milo and me sitting by the lake

Poem Park

Poems written by and/or to the Emperors line the walkway into Poem Park

Kevin explaining who some of the Emperors are and what their poems are saying

My fav... a Warrior Poet

This huge ceremonial drum is inscribed with the symbol for 'poem'

Pillars all have poems inscribed on them 

One of the corner pieces - a tiger

This motif is very popular in China ... It is dragon claws

Taoist Holy Man on Pearl Mountain

Peeking thru the trees

Waterfalls

Got up close n personal with the Tao Holy Man and then it was time for lunch, after which we toured the stone carving museum....amazing!

Drum Dancers

I took dozens more as these carvings that are thousands of years old fascinate me. 

Stopped by the market and picked up some cherries and mangosteen fruit