Last week it was YueXiu Mountain for the New Year illuminations (TA reviewed). This week it was YunTai Garden for the displays, in the meantime the Coronavirus descended upon China. Luckily SWMBO had a couple of face masks for us otherwise life would have been difficult as you couldn’t travel on public transport or gain admission in a public place without one.
Wearing our masks, we walked to the bus stop along the New Year deserted street where nearly every shop was closed. The driver had a hand-held ‘thingy’ that when pointed at us assured him we were suitably virus-free to travel. We alighted at the BaiYun Cable Way bus stop after our ¥2 yuan each journey. Then it was a short stroll through the tunnel under Guangyuan East Road, past more closed shops and restaurants, and across the road to the entrance to YunTai Garden.
Entrance was a mere ¥8 for SWMBO but free to me as I’m incredibly ancient and had a passport to prove it. A Bao ‘An (security guard) on the gate was ensuring only face mask wearing people were allowed in. As with the bus a ‘thingy’ was pointed at us to ensure we suitably virus free. Having passed both these were allowed in.
Turning right we walked up the hill towards the huge tropical greenhouse which was closed. A pity as I was hoping for a bit of warmth as the weather was rather chilly. Undaunted we strolled around the garden. The ecological garden was also closed off, which was a shame as it’s a lovely quiet walk.
The displays were nothing special, and not nearly as good as the National Day holiday that I TA reviewed last October. However, the red (mainly poinsettia and roses) and yellow flowers (chrysanthemums) brightened up the day, so it was a colourfull albeit chilly walk.
Of course, no visit to the garden is completed without saying ‘Hello’ to Shaun the Sheep and Alfred the Gorilla. A pity there’s no explanation about them other that they’re a gift from Bristol.
After a couple of hours, we were ready for home. The thought of hanging around for another hour in the cold north wind to see the illuminations was just too much.
A quick walk to the bus stop. On the bus the driver seemed more intent on everybody wearing a face mask than driving his bus.
Now that we’ve got the face masks all we need is warmer weather to arrive for SWMBO and I to continue our adventures in and around GuangZhou.
