Our last full day in Nanning was spent in the beautiful Forest Park. I have never seen a park so big or so gorgeous!
It never stopped blowing my mind to see pagodas like this mixed in with modern architecture. This was on the walkway before reaching the park.
At the entrance to Forest Park
This walkway went on for a mile, I believe. Beautifully carved wood and tiled floors with benches along the sides for rest.
Our family had become closer with David, our guide, and I really enjoyed talking with him about Chinese culture as we came upon things in the park that sparked interest. For instance, the covered bridge above was still adorned with many decorations from Tomb Sweeping. All we knew of Tomb Sweeping is that we had to wait one additional week to come to China because it was a national holiday that closed all business for two days. David told us that during that time, people go home to their families and decorate tombs. They also have images of things which might be useful to their ancestors in the afterlife printed on paper. They then burn the paper, believing that this will send the item to their ancestors. He said in the past, people would burn pictures of horses or food or tools. He laughed as he said that many now burn images of ipods or cell phones. He really cracked up when he said, “I hope they don’t forget to burn the charger!” It made us laugh to see how funny it was to him!
There were so many distinct areas in this park, it was as if you were walking to several different parks in one day! There was a courtyard surrounded with statues of the indigenous people groups who are now all assimilated. There was a path through gorgeous trees and flowers with occasional large pieces of marble. Marble is farmed (mined?) in this area, so we saw it everywhere. The malls were floor to ceiling with it, the hotels, everywhere. Since it is local, it is much cheaper than wood for flooring or countertops. And a plus in the stifling heat is that marble is always cool to the touch! Just ask Grant! It was cool enough that he used it for a nice, naturally cooling hammock!
Next we came to an open, grassy area that was larger than a football field and surrounded by trees. Grant took advantage of the first open space he had been to all week and did some of his favorite gymnastics tricks. As he was doing cartwheels, front handsprings, and round offs, a group of schoolboys in uniforms ran up to him and started laughing and saying something to him over and over. We had no clue what they were saying of course, but they cheered for him as he continued to show off his tricks. To the left of the grassy area began this mile long amazing wood and rope play structure. It was the coolest playscape I have ever seen! Grayson and Grant were excited to try it out, and the schoolboys from the grassy area followed us over. There must have been an entire elementary school there, because the crowd of kids just kept growing! Sidenote- we learned that the school kids get one day a week at a park like this for fun and exercise!
Entrance to the play structure
Grant’s new friends. We found out they were calling him “Monkey Boy!”
As word spread about the “white folks” in the park, groups of little kids would run up and try out their English skills on us. Adorable little faces were everywhere saying, “Hello, good morning, good afternoon!” I told one little cutie that I liked his hat (by pointing to his hat smiling and giving a thumbs up), and he followed me the rest of the day, pointing to his hat, smiling, then taking it off and bowing to me! He was so very adorable!
We made another ice cream and hydration stop at this park, and the people were much less shy about asking for photos. We had adults and kids alike asking if we would take a photo with them. After this, we had some time to wander freely with just our family before we had to meet the bus taking us to lunch. Our family chose to spend the time beside the lotus pond in a shady pavilion. Lily was sound asleep, so I took the opportunity to sit down with her and the boys practiced with the yo-yos they had bought at the mall the day before. Our view was not too shabby!
This “small town” of 7 million people surely had grown on us. We enjoyed our time in Nanning so much, and loved learning about the area where Lily Belle spent her first 19 months. David had also grown dear to us, and we were all a little bit sad to spend our last full day here!
“Uncle David” with our boys and the two previously adopted daughters of the other LIfeline family
Check out another blog that has been added, a horse menage blog, as well.