Today I went to Xuanwu Lake in Nanjing and took lots of photos of the gorgeous cherry blossoms. Along the way, I looked for single cherry blossoms, as well as clusters of two, three, four, five, and six flowers, and took close-up shots of each. I felt that cherry blossoms are a lot like people: some stand alone, away from the crowd; some gather in small groups for warmth; and most choose to stay among the big, full flower clusters.
On my way back, I met a foreigner. After chatting, I learned he is from Turkey and is traveling in China. He has already visited Shanghai and plans to explore Nanjing and Wuhan next. During our conversation, I tried my best to introduce the ancient city wall of the Ming Dynasty beside the cherry blossom avenue at Xuanwu Lake. I told him about its history, its structure, and the interesting fact that the names of the workers who made the bricks were carved on them. He listened with great interest.
We walked together from Xuanwu Gate to Jiefang Gate, and I also took him to the cherry blossom avenue in front of Jiming Temple. He kept saying how abundant goods are in China, how Chinese shops can be found all over the world, and how many historical sites there are in Nanjing. I also mentioned the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. When I said some parts of ancient buildings no longer exist, he immediately asked if the Japanese had destroyed them. I replied that most were, but some were damaged over successive dynasties.
Anyway, I think introducing Chinese culture and history to foreigners is something to be proud of. I hope I can learn more about these scenic spots in the future and express myself more fluently in English.
