Guanlan Printmaking Base
27.06.2017 - 28.06.2017
View
Living in Guangdong
on baixing's travel map.
The next day turned out a lot better. I found the "print making base" which has a really great historical village that is artfully restored. It kept the original feel of the Hakka construction with tasteful modern upgrades. I was really happy I had come, but I was too early to see much art, so I walked down the road to this enormous print art museum.
The China Print Museum was an architectural wonder in the middle of nowhere, north of Shenzhen. I was really astounded at such beautiful design out in the suburbs of Guangdong. And only about three other people were also visiting that morning. I had the whole glorious place to myself! I soaked up the international printed pieces, which had some surprisingly political themes. I just couldn't believe this place existed, it was such a nice way to spend the day. I hadn't seen any worthwhile art in a long time, so I stayed there for a while.
On my way back, it started pouring and everything I owned got wet. Including my fairly new passport, which I would have to replace in the near future because the Chinese consulate would refuse to put a new visa in there. I eventually found the bus back to Shenzhen and it wasn't long until I was back in the city. A cute older couple from Hong Kong told me all about their golf club that they love right down the street from the printmaking base. They had never been to it or heard of it or the giant museum, just a couple minutes down the road from their fancy golf club cottage that they frequent on holidays about once a month for more than thirty years...hmm...
I took the subway all the way to the ferry port in Shekou, my next destination was Zhuhai. I was whisked off without delay in a very organized manner onto the speedy ferry boat that plunked me down in Zhuhai in exactly one hour. The whole process was like heaven, truly. No giant lines, no sweaty Asians pushing me around. Wide open, cool spaces. It was such a relief. I was really glad I didn't take yet another bus to get there. The ferry is really the best way to get to Zhuhai.
My next mission was to get to an old garden by 5:30 p.m., when they closed the gates. Bus #3 got me most of the way there, but then I had to speedwalk 1.5 km more. I got there right at 5 p.m., quickly got the feel of the place, then left for the bus station in an attempt to make the last bus home.
I didn't know what time it might be at, but it turned out I was too late for it anyway. It was not to be. The next bus home was tomorrow, so I went looking for a place to stay. I found a guy from Colorado who was nice enough to wander around and also eat dinner with me. Eventually we found a quiet, cheap place for me to stay at not far from the bus station. We wandered around some more and I found a suitcase that I needed for my next trip to Beijing. I was moving house again. Three bags with all my belongings, taking it all the way up north on the slow train!
Posted by baixing 11:42 Archived in China Tagged ferry shenzhen zhuhai guanlan
