Saturdays Grading was very satisfying, with 4 Adults and 7 Karate Kids testing to advance to the next level. Special congratulations to Darcy Quirk and Nathan Spedding who double Graded after putting in great efforts throughout the term. Also a mention of Angus McAdam who achieved his blue Belt at 68 years of age. Well done to all who participated, and thanks to everyone who came along to share the event. 

11:00 am start so be there soon after 10:30 am to get changed, warm up and go over the material you are being tested on.

Adults and Karate Kids will be Grading through the whole range of Gup levels so it should be interestin

g to watch.

Even if you are not grading you should come along in your uniform to support the others. bring a camera and take as many pictures as you like.

Last day in Hangzhou today and a little sad to leave, but looking forward to being home in Caloundra. Straight back to the regular timetable on Tuesday.

Made a new friend last night and he insisted we go meet his friend the Head Boxing Coach at the Zhejiang College of Sports. The college is a bit like QAS on a much bigger scale. Sports there include most Olympic events and Wushu. From 5 years old, athletes live, train and do their schooling on site, going home only for New Year with their families.  In the Power Training area athletes from a range of sports were training. The Wushu area was next where teams were practicing Tai Chi and met the Coach. Demonstrations of forms were exchanged and the Coach offered some advice. 

We had Tea in the Boxing Coach’s apartment (photo taken from balcony) the feasted at a nearby restaurant. Returning to the city, the afternoon was spent drinking tea and chatting, enjoying the casual relaxed lifestyle of Hangzhou locals. 

Westlake Museum has a model of the entire Westlake Scenic Area. You can see just how much natural environment the is in this beautiful city. There is also a photographic history of Hangzhou, from late 19th Century to early 21st Century. This may be a temporary exhibition following a theme, or not? The content of the photographs is dominated by military images, and prisoners in bondage. Unable to read the narrative I was unable to tell if the exhibition celebrated the captives or the captors, The prisoners did not look distressed. There are also many images of carefree, happy people.

Perfect morning for early Tai Chi practice at Westlake, coolish with a light breeze. Day two of the National Holiday is nearly as busy as yesterday, prompting avoidance of tourist attractions. The day was spent exploring an old area south of the railway station. Unusually there was much renovation of old buildings to be seed, rather than the usual large scale redevelopment. Excellent spicy fried noodles for lunch @ $1.50.

The picture shows some 3 level roads and is taken from a pedestrian overpass which is above a traffic overpass.

Another bus today and it went on the same route as yesterday until Wulin Square. After a quick look around to the north in a residential area it was back toward the city. By now the crowds were building so I headed east away from the Westlake scenic area into the old CBD. There are many canals in Hangzhou, tree lined with walking paths each side. A very pleasant place with breeze and shade as the day warmed up. 

The crowds were the spectacle. Mostly family groups through the day and couples into the night. Many old people who looked as though they did not get out much, often being half carried by their children.

Early in the day people seemed in a very happy, festive mood. By evening there were a few tired faces and stressed relationships appearing.

At night people were out having fun, big crowds of dancers in Wushan Square, Nanshan Rd very busy and Hefang St packed tighter than the overcrowded busses.

A bus today, 40 minutes to the end of the line at Hangzhou West Bus Station not far from Xixi Wetlands. It was raining and not much to see so back on the bus to Fengqi Rd where yesterdays expedition ended. West Jiankang Rd is a “China Characteristic Commercial Street” which is filled with all things silk. Traditional costumes, modern style, scarves etc. make colorful displays for 500m of small, historical shops. There are very few people around all day. The evening was spent around the Qing period Hefang Street and the street food market near the Drum Gate and it was virtually deserted. It seems the eve of China National Day is a time to stay at home. 

On the subway to Wulin Square which is surrounded by museums and the Westlake Centre (pictured) which is nowhere near Westlake but sits in a bend of the Grand Canal. Wulin Square itself is hidden behind 6m high fences apparently undergoing extensive development. A very hot day cut short by a cool change bringing wind and rain from the west. The subway was convenient shelter and a fast trip home. It seems no matter what time of day, the trains and busses are standing room only.

Explored an area North of Westlake this afternoon led to discovery of this living art piece. Depicting images of cycling, walking, Tai Chi and natural environment it sits at a busy intersection in front of a convention centre with the China Expo Hangzhou Healthy Elderly in progress.

The city is sprouting thousands of China flags in preparation for October 1 China National Day. Hot, humid and very crowded anywhere near the Lake.