Jin Shan Park

According to my Lonely Planet travel guide, a Zen master supposedly received "copious amounts of gold (jin) after opening the gates at the entrance of [Jin Shan] park." I did not have this experience; rather I had to pay to visit, but I was plesantly surprised by this garden/temple/amusement park here in Zhenjiang. The park sits on the Yangzi River. It was a lovely day today and the trees and flowers have begun to resurrect.

I rode a boat on the Yangzi River (technically it was a lake that feeds into the Yangzi), had my picture taken with a complete stranger, saw one of my students, Alex, and climbed up the Cishou Pagoda, over 1400 years old. Here is the view of Zhenjiang from the top of the pagoda.

As I exited the pagoda and temple area, I saw a woman laughing with her friends, holding a child's coat. The coat had a hold burnt through it...I guess her son lost control of the incense!

Jinshan Park is a very touristy place; I saw multiple tour groups (and one other foreigner!). They also had lots of souvenir stands and junk food vendors, including one man who made this fish out of candy by pouring syrupy honey from the side of a pan, totally free-hand. Talk about talent!All in all, I really enjoyed Jinshan Park. Sheng1 Ri4 Kaui4 Le to Eli and love to you all!