China: Yunnan: #2 Yunnan University and Green Lake

After lunch, we wandered off into the grounds of Yunnan University.  Pleasant surroundings and very pleasant walking under a threatening sky, temperature in mid-20’s, humidity high. Located at an altitude of 1892m (6207 ft.) and just north of the Tropic of Cancer, Kunming is often referred to as the Eternal Spring City due mainly to its weather. I’ll let my photos tell the story!

DSC00763 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00763 © DY of jtdytravels

Yunnan University logo

DSC00754 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00754 © DY of jtdytravels

We wandered down a beautiful avenue of Ginkgo trees.

DSC00756 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00756 © DY of jtdytravels

A Faculty building – note the row of Zamia palms.

DSC00757 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00757 © DY of jtdytravels

A bell tower – note sick, leafless trees in front of the tower.

DSC00758 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00758 © DY of jtdytravels

The sick trees were being ‘treated’ by digging a hole, filling it with water and sprinkling a pink powder on the surface. What that was, I don’t know.

DSC00766 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00766 © DY of jtdytravels

This sick plane tree was hooked up to a drip!

DSC00759 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00759 © DY of jtdytravels

Colonial corridor in ‘The House of Huize’, built in 1923.

DSC00770 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00770 © DY of jtdytravels

Another old building – now a restaurant.

DSC00772 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00772 © DY of jtdytravels

Near the university is Green Lake which is surrounded by an attractive park. An ornate fence surrounds the lake.

A sign explained: “The Park was a beautiful bay on the Dianchi Lake before the Ming Dynasty and became a tourist resort at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty.  With an area of 21 ha. (52 ac.) the park is nowadays well-known for its richly ornamented traditional pavilions and palaces, blue waves and ripples, green willows, beautiful flowers, fair landscape and quiet elegance of its numerous scenes.”

DSC00798 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00798 © DY of jtdytravels

A patch of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) well established in a corner of the lake.

DSC00773 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00773 © DY of jtdytravels

Lotus flower… impossible to resist a photo of this beauty.

DSC00778 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00778 © DY of jtdytravels

Lotus flower opening up fully. Lovely contrast between petals and seed head.

DSC00775 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00775 © DY of jtdytravels

Fallen beauty

DSC00776 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00776 © DY of jtdytravels

A dried lotus seed head showing seeds about to be released

DSC00784 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00784 © DY of jtdytravels

Unusual purple flowers contrasting with their silver bracts.

DSC00780 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00780 © DY of jtdytravels

A seed-eating finch at home amongst the water plants.

DSC00795 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00795 © DY of jtdytravels

Avenue of bamboo.

DSC00794 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00794 © DY of jtdytravels

Bamboo graffiti

DSC00797 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00797 © DY of jtdytravels

Even the public loo (absolutely spotless) had a dado of bamboo images.

DSC00802 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00802 © DY of jtdytravels

A flower unknown to me!

DSC00804 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00804 © DY of jtdytravels

Walking back towards the apartment, we saw this street sweeper taking a break.

DSC00810 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00810 © DY of jtdytravels

Another sleepy-head !

DSC00810 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00810 © DY of jtdytravels

We passed a small street trolley selling beautiful red ‘crinkled’ capsicum…

DSC00809 © DY of jtdytravels

DSC00809 © DY of jtdytravels

… and orange and green ones as well.

By then it was time for a break… a stop at a favourite haunt of my hosts for a coffee and half price cake (Thursday is the day for this treat).  All very pleasant, before we headed back to the apartment to sort out my washing… a much needed chore.

Kenzo cooked tea of steamed chicken and rice after which I gave myself over to diary writing on my computer. Otherwise it was the Chinese TV programmes.  They were no real distraction as I couldn’t understand a thing!  Bed and sleep came easily.

David

All photographs copyright © DY  of  jtdytravels

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One comment on “China: Yunnan: #2 Yunnan University and Green Lake

  1. Mitzi Eisenberg says:

    Hi, David and Jennie. We look forward to these daily posts. They are really fascinating and we love the journeys minus the jet lag. Happy and healthy 2016. Mitzi

    Sent from my iPad Mitzi

    >

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