New Yuang Ming Palace 圓明新園

On a quiet Saturday, why not go to the New Yuanming Palace in Zhuhai. It is close to big cities like Macau, Hong Kong and Zhuhai and still offers quite a big change of scenery. This park will surely take you to another era of China's history !

History

Located at the foot of the Lanpu Dashilin mountain, covering an area of 1.4 square kilometers, the New Yuanming Palace (opened to the public in 1997) is a reproduction of the imperial Yuanming Palace in Beijing, one of the favorite gardens of the late emperors of the Qing dynasty. It was burnt down and completely destroyed by British and French troops in 1860. The New Yuanming Palace was built as a reminder of the glory and the bitter history of ancient China and has been set up as a patriotism education site. It also constantly hosts many large or small performances presenting the ups and downs of the last dynasty of China

The Park

The park is enlivened by performers dressed up as soldiers and court ladies. In the evening, there is always a great show at a big outdoor theatre behind the Lama Temple which can hold as many as 5,000 people. The show is made up of several episodes including an Accession to the Throne, Concubine Picking and Burning down of the Palace. There is also a nice restaurant in the park where you can find some “imperial Qing food”. 

The New Yuanming Palace in Zhuhai recovered numerous scenic spots in their old construction style combined with modern features, including the complex of royal palaces, Fuhai Lake, Royal Food Street and shops in different types. Carriages, small trains, electric cars and electric boats are provided. A series of performances, such as “Emperor Ascending the Throne”, “Emperor's Wedding Ceremony in Qing Dynasty”, begin at 10:30 every morning at various scenic spots in the Palace. At 19:15 in the evening, the dancing drama “Oriental Pearl” is put on the stage at the Central Performance Square.

Fares and Ticketing

From October 17 2012, visitors to the New Yuan Ming Palace in Zhuhai will be able to visit the park for free! In the past, visitors had to pay RMB 130 to enter.

The park is open from 9am to 6pm. Visitors are required to present their ID cards or Passports to get their free tickets. In light of the park's accommodation capacity, there will only be 15,000 people allowed to enter the park each day. According to a report by Guangzhou Daily, performances held in the park will still charge audiences.

Walking around the theme park can take you about 2 hours and English-speaking guide can be hired at the gate.  

Going There

1. Take the bus No. 1, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40, 60, 99, 201 at the urban city to the park directly.

2. Take the shuttle tour bus at the Guangzhou Jinhan Bus Station to the park directly.

Cheung Chau Bun Festival 包山節

Cheung Chau Bun Festival (包山節) or Cheung Chau Da Jiu Festival (長洲太平清醮) is a traditional Chinese festival held annually on the island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong.

Definition
It is meaning the "Purest Sacrifice celebrated for Great Peace".
Cheung Chau's Bun Festival, which draws tens of thousands of local and overseas tourists every year, is staged to mark the Eighth day of the Fourth Moon, in the Chinese calendar (this is usually in early May). It coincides with the local celebration of Buddha's Birthday. The festival formally begins on the 6th of the fourth lunar month and lasts for six days, whereas the highlight of the festival falls on the 8th.

Parade
The focus of the festival is the parade which has long been the key tourists' attraction. The spotlight of the parade is 'the float procession,' along which children aged between five and eight are carried shoulder high through narrow streets. Each child represents a household figure in Chinese history, romantic story, or mythology, and each is meticulously made up and dressed for his/her part. But the most striking thing is the way in which these small actors, posed above the heads of the crowd, appear to be performing impossible teats of balance, all under perfect control and apparently in complete comfort.

Buns
On the last main night of the festival - late on the day of the parade - there used to be a scramble for the buns on the three main towers. This was evidently a rough and ready affair. In 1977, Joyce Savidge wrote: "At exactly midnight, a gong sounds and all the young men who have taken part in the festival rush forward and begin to climb the 60-foot towers. Some climb up inside the tower and burst through at the top – for it's the crowning bun and the banner on the top that will bring the best good fortune throughout the year. Without any thought for safety, the young men swarm all over the towers like bees over a honeycomb, collecting buns as fast as they can and stuffing them into pockets, baskets and sacks. It's usually all over within 10 minutes, leaving three sorry-looking frames of bamboo, tattered paper and rough string."

Given the bun towers are made of bamboo, and around 60 feet high, this would seem a dangerous practice. And in 1978, one of the towers collapsed during the race, resulting in over 100 people being injured - and the government banning the bun scramble. Bun Festival organisers have asked the government to allow the bun scramble to restart. But officials remained cautious - and instead opted to start a new scramble, up a specially built bun tower with a metal framework. Just 12 people were allowed to compete in the first race, in 2005, which was won by 23-year-old local fireman and bodybuilder, Kwok Ka-keung. All had to use safety harnesses.

Legends
One story of the origin of the festival is that in the 18th Century the island of Cheung Chau was devastated by a plague and infiltrated by until local fishermen brought an image of the god Pak Tai to the island. Paraded through the village lanes, the deity drove away evil spirits. Villagers also disguised themselves as different deities and walked around the island to drive away the evil spirits.

Transportation from Wanchai to Shenzhen airport

This time, for money reasons, I departed from Shenzhen airport to go to Shanghai, instead of directly from Hong Kong airport. My company told me that there was a transportation directly from Wanchai to Shenzhen airport in only 1-2h, depending on the time taken at the China immigration, so I decided to try it.

For the route from Hong Kong to Shenzhen airport, because my departure was on a public holiday, I had to take the bus. But for the return, from Shenzhen airport to Hong Kong I took a limousine. I am going to write further about these two means below.

Bus
Because I departed on a public holiday, I couldn't go by limousine, I took the bus instead. The earliest bus is at 7.05am, my colleagues told me it will take around 2 hours and I should add 1 more hour for the immigration, since I cross by passport and not by Chinese ID Card. Adding it all together, I was thinking I would arrive at the airport around 10am, allowing me to get on the 11am flight (for domestic flight, 1h prior to departure is enough), so I bought the 11.20am flight to Shanghai.

I arrived around 6.40am in front of the China Travel Service (CTS) office in Wanchai (please see below for all the practical information). There were already some people waiting there and soon after 2 office ladies arrived. I showed them my ticket and they gave me a sticker, with "airport" written on it, you will understand the use in a moment. The bus departed on time and stopped at the second stop in Hong Kong Central, where you can directly buy the tickets at a counter. After that it was straight to the border.

It took about 1h to go to the border. The driver asked us to go down, without our luggage, to cross the Hong Kong border and we will meet him after it. Since I am holder of the Hong Kong ID card, it was pretty fast for me to cross it. Back on the bus and after 5 minutes, we arrived at the Chinese border. That was the end of our trip by bus, every passengers had to take its luggage and cross the border. This time I was using my passport and had to fill in the Arrival form. As it was still early, I crossed the border quickly too. I went out the immigration building and immediately was recognized by my sticker (use of it now) to go to the airport (some passengers were going to Guangzhou, Shenzhen city center, or other places in China). I was led to a minibus, not that comfortable, big enough for small luggage, but not for big ones ... Luckily the route took about 30 minutes only and we arrived at the airport.

All in all it took me 2 hours only to go from Wanchai to Shenzhen airport, including border time. It was beyond my 3 hours preparation. I arrived at 9am and had to wait for 2 hours for my 11.20am flight :P

Limousine
My flight landed at 6.45pm and because I only had hand-carried luggage and it was a domestic flight, I went out of the airport very fast. At the exit of the airport, there are many companies that will take you from the airport to several places in Hong Kong. I asked for the limousine company and was directed to their counter. They have a small office, where you can rest and go online. The ladies told me that the 7pm limousine was already fully booked, but that the passengers haven't gone out of the airplane yet. So if by 7pm, nobody showed up, I could board on it. Luckily for me, I had my place and bought the ticket directly at the counter. We were only 3 ladies on the limousine, for 5 places, so we were very comfortable.

The driver drives fast, but smoothly. We arrived at the border (China and Hong Kong at the same place) in about 45 minutes. There we had to wait for about 30 minutes, inside the car with aircon, to be our turn to cross the border. The driver will ask for your documents and check them before handing them to the border officer. Second queue for the Hong Kong border and we are off to Wanchai. This limousine had 2 stops, the first one in Kowloon side and the second one in Wanchai in front of the China Travel Service (CTS).

It took 2 hours from Shenzhen airport to Wanchai, but we had to wait about 45 minutes at the border, because of it being Sunday evening.

Summary
All in all, both transportation means took the same time for me, although the limousine is supposed to be faster. But I passed the China immigration the morning on my way in, there was not many people queuing up for the passport line. And we passed the immigration on the way back around 8pm on a Sunday, so I guessed most people were heading back to Hong Kong after a week end in China. So it all depends on the time you cross the border.

Both bus and limousine were comfortable enough for me. The limousine is more spacious (again we were only 3 for 5 seats), but the bus allows for more luggage.

Speaking Chinese greatly helps, but most of the signs and documents are translated in English and besides the time and the cost, there is not much to be aware of.

Practical information
Wanchai China Travel Service (CTS) office : G/F, Southorn Centre, 138 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong (exit B2 of Wanchai MTR station)
Tel : 2832 3888
Opening hours : Mon-Fri 9.00 ~ 19.00, Sat 9.00 ~ 18.00, Sun & Holidays 9.30 ~ 18.00
website : http://www.ctshk.com/english/index.htm

Shenzhen airport counter : at the exit of the airport (just after picking up the luggage, where there is the pick up area), go left and there is a small office there.

Fare : HKD100 for the bus and HKD180 for the limousine (same in RMB)

Timetable :
- from Wanchai to Shenzhen airport :
- from Shenzhen airport to Wanchai :

Note: there is another bus company that stops at the Kowloon Airport Station and allows us to check-in and thus reducing the time needed at the airport. Please see link (in Chinese).
Note 2: a China visa is necessary for passport holders.

Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋節

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival, is a popular harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. It is also sometimes referred to as the Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival.

Definition
The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is usually around late September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. It is a date that parallels the autumnal equinox of the solar calendar, when the moon is supposedly at its fullest and roundest. The traditional food of this festival is the mooncake, of which there are many different varieties.

Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date. Traditionally on this day, Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomelos under the moon together.

Together with the celebration there appear some special customs in different parts of the country, such as burning incense, planting Mid-Autumn trees, lighting lanterns on towers and fire dragon dances.

Moon cakes
The round moon cakes, measuring about three inches in diameter and one and a half inches in thickness, resembled Western fruitcakes in taste and consistency. These cakes were made with melon seeds, lotus seeds, almonds, minced meats, bean paste, orange peels and lard. A golden yolk from a salted duck egg was placed at the center of each cake, and the golden brown crust was decorated with symbols of the festival. Traditionally, thirteen moon cakes were piled in a pyramid to symbolize the thirteen moons of a "complete year," that is, twelve moons plus one intercalary moon.

Here is this story about the moon-cake. during the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to the foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Backed into each moon caked was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attached and overthrew the government. Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend and was called the Moon Cake.

Legends
A long, long time ago, a terrible drought plagued the earth. Ten suns burned fiercely in the sky like smoldering volcanoes. The trees and grass were scorched. The land was cracked and parched, and rivers ran dry. Many people died of hunger and thirst. The King of Heaven sent Hou Yi down to the earth to help. When Hou Yi arrived, he took out his red bow and white arrows and shot down nine suns one after another. The weather immediately turned cooler. Heavy rains filled the rivers with fresh water and the grass and trees turned green. Life had been restored and humanity was saved.

One day, a charming young woman, Chang'e makes her way home from a stream, holding a bamboo contaiver, A young man comes forward, asking for a drink. When she sees the red bow and white arrows hanging from his belt, Chang'e tealizes that he is their savior, Hou Yi. Inviting him to drink, Chang'e plucks a beautiful flower and gives it to him as a token of respect. Hou Yi, in turn, selects a beautiful silver fox fur as his gift for her. This meeting kindles the spark of their love. And soon after that, they get married.

A mortal's life is limited, of course. So in order to enjoy his happy life with Chang'e forever, Hou Yi decides to look for an elixir of life.He goes to the Kunlun Mountains where the Western Queen Mother lives. Out of respect for the good deeds the has done, the Western Queen Mother rewards Hou Yi with elixir, a fine powder made from kernels of fruit which grows on the tree of eternity. At the same time, she tells him:If you and your wife share the elixir, you will both enjoy eternal life. But if only one of you takes it,that one will ascend to Heaven and become immortal.
Hou Yi returns home and tells his wife all that has happened and they decide to drink the elixir together on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon is full and bright.

A wicked and merciless man named Feng Meng secretly hears about their plan.He wishes Hou Yi an early death so that he can drink the elixir himself and become immortal.His opportunity finally arrives. One day,when the full moon is rising, Hou Yi is on his way home from hunting. Feng Meng kills him. The murderer then runs to Hou Yi's home and forces Chang'e to give him the elixir, Without hesitating, Chang'e picks up the elixir and drinks it all. Overcome with grief, Chang'e rushes to her dead husband's side, weeping bitterly.Soon the elixir begins to have its effect and Chang'e feels herself being lifted towards Heaven.

Chang'e decides to live on the moon because it is nearest to the earth. There she lives a simple and contented life. Even though she is in Heaven, her heart remains in the world of mortals. Never does she forget the deep love she has for Hou Yi and the love she feels for the people who have shared their sadness and happiness.

Chinese Ren Min Bi

The Renminbi (RMB, sign: ¥; code: CNY; also CN¥, 元 and CN元) is the official currency of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC. Its name (人民幣) means "people's currency".

History
As the Communist Party of China took control of ever larger territories in the latter part of the Chinese Civil War, its People's Bank of China began in 1948 to issue a unified currency for use in Communist-controlled territories. Also denominated in yuan, this currency was identified by different names, including "People's Bank of China banknotes" (中國人民銀行鈔票; from November 1948), "New Currency" (新幣; from December 1948), "People's Bank of China notes" (中國人民銀行券; from January 1949), "People's Notes" (人民券, as an abbreviation of the last name), and finally "People's Currency", or "renminbi", from June 1949.

Coins
Frequently used : ¥0.1, ¥0.5, ¥1
Rarely used : ¥0.01, ¥0.02, ¥0.05

- ¥0.1 : Obverse = bank title, value, year of minting
Reverse = orchid
-¥0.5 : Obverse = bank title, value, year of minting
Reverse = lotus
- ¥1 : Obverse = bank title, value, year of minting
Reverse = chrysanthemum

Banknotes
Frequently used : ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥20, ¥50, ¥100
Rarely used : ¥0.1, ¥0.2, ¥0.5, ¥2

- ¥1 : Obverse = Mao Zedong and orchid
Reverse = three Pools Mirroring the Moon at West Lake
Watermark = orchid
- ¥5 : Obverse = Mao Zedong and narcissus
Reverse = Mount Tai
Watermark = narcissus
- ¥10 : Obverse = Mao Zedong and rose
Reverse = Three Gorges of the Yangtze River
Watermark = rose
- ¥20 : Obverse = Mao Zedong and lotus
Reverse = Scenery of Guilin
Watermark = lotus
- ¥50 : Obverse = Mao Zedong and chrysanthemum
Reverse = Potala Palace
Watermark = Mao Zedong
- ¥100 : Obverse = Mao Zedong and prunus mume
Reverse = Great Hall of the People
Watermark = Mao Zedong