The tour starts!

 2025-10-14 (Tuesday)

This is the first day of the tour proper (Guide – Annie).

It was a long day. We started off from the hotel at 10.00am (late because some people only arrived at 2am). Couple of false starts (going to rain and it will be cold – go back to the room and get a jacket. We will need the passports – go back to the room and get them)

Nanjing City Wall Museum was the first stop. It’s the history of the city with models, videos etc. Good but very hot inside and we were glad to come out. Didn’t get to walk on the city wall although the museum is right next to it.

City wall model with laser highlighting as the story is told

Bricks used

Bricks with the artisan's name

Corner pieces

Next visit was to a reconstructed Laomendong village. Established during the Ming Dynasty (1388-1644), it was an important residential/commercial area. They recreated the village and people live and do business there. Really well laid out and the ‘old-style’ buildings are very authentic. Bought a constructor-figure for Matt.

Entrance gate

Shop front

Ivy-covered building

Ornate building - Wall in the background

Shopping alley

Lunch was at a supermarket building. We took a tray and picked what we wanted and the Tour people picked up the bills at the end. 

Visited two cultural community centres after lunch. The first Xishanqiao Comprehensive Cultural Service Centre (a mouthful) was a place where anybody could drop in and take part in singing, dancing, reading etc. free of charge. It’s in a 4-5 story building provided by the Government. We watched groups of retirees dancing and singing. Retirement age is 50 for women and 55 for men, so they need plenty of activities to stay sane. 

The second was another community facility (Youfang Community) again funded by the Government where in addition to arts and crafts, they can air any problems they have to the government. It’s a government office served by public servants.

We were really tired by this time and we came back to the hotel at 5.30 and were to go out again for dinner at 6.30 – the tour’s Welcome Dinner. Four of us ducked down to the local pub (The Blue Frog) for a couple of beers. Dinner was again a major affair with many dishes and drinks… It’s a pity that these restaurants are so far from the hotel – we would have enjoyed just having a light meal nearer the hotel.

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