The Newly-Opened City Centre

WANDA PLAZA, QUANZHOU CITY. The mall opened practically one week before we arrived. But though it's new it obviously had attracted mall goers already. The mall, almost like that of the Philippine's Glorietta and Eastwood Mall offers 6-level of shopping, dining and entertainment area. It actually boasts the first Imax theater (or if not, the first cinema) in the city. It also has a 2-level basement parking, alresco dining area, dancing fountain and a strip of shops outside.

 

The mall houses international and local brands - Uniqlo, H&M, Esprit, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger and perhaps, the biggest Zara I have seen. It also has about 30 restaurants located at the 3rd floor. I was lucky to have tried dining in two of the restaurants - Masters and Sichuan Grilled Fish. The former, was for a complimentary lunch and the later, for our send-off dinner. I must say, that both offered great seafood flavors which didn't fail our taste buds. 

I was used of Quanzhou's department stores being called a mall already. So the stroll at Wanda was a completely different mall experience for me much so to its locals.

Mall opens everyday from 10:00AM to 10:00PM and is a owned and operated by China's Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties, Ltd.

West Lake's Charm

WEST LAKE PARK, QUANZHOU CITY. The park which is located north of the city is one of its attractions. I went there during the night, so the chance of  seeing the beauty of its landscape have been missed. I was lucky though that the dancing lights, cool breeze and quiet waters replaced it. And although most of the greens where replaced by blacks, it is still an attraction in its own; besides, the surroundings have more colors during the night than it may have in the day.


Locals of Quanzhou apparently loves parks. In my last visit, I've seen a few with a gathering of people either dancing or simply sitting for a talk. This is maybe, the largest park in the city, I heard. And it obviously showed its expanse. We strolled by the park for a little less than an hour, but I guess there are still parts I haven't explored. Since we were also limited by time, we just took a few snapshots of some worth-capturing areas I would suggest for anyone to come visit too:


1. Lake. It was calm during the night. Quite different perhaps in the morning where many would go for a boat ride. During our visit, the boats were all stationed in stillness at the banks.

2. Landscape. Towering trees dominantly stands at most areas of the park. It stands apart the shrubs arranged in a simple landscape.

3.Pagodas. It comes in different sizes, stands in different location. All of which boasts the distinct Chinese features so authentic I could not deny I'm in the mainland.

4. Bridges. It transported us to the other attractions of the park. There are actually two bridges in the park - the long one and the steep one. I crossed both and each has brought me a different feel. One, gave me anticipation to cross the end and reach the biggest pagoda in the park, and the other, chill and cold despite a hard climb of such an elevation.

5. Gates. The characters flashed in the digital monitor may be all foreign but the vibe is just as pleasant. Both entrance and exit gates seem to have welcomed and thanked us - the work-of-art structure was a bonus.

No fee is charged when entering the park. The only charge anyone may have to pay is if he/ she enters the game arena hidden inside the park's biggest temple. It was an unusual site in the park - an old structure housing a modern facility. I actually thought that the noise we're hearing from outside is that of a practicing group of martial artists. We were instead greeted by skaters and arcade players.

Quanzhou has a smaller version of West Lake - East. In the next visit, I hope to visit it too.

Ni Hao Once More

QUANZHOU CITY. This is my second but then again, this is for work. So I really owe my employer big since I'm getting the opportunity to travel to this part of China. I would never have made it as part of my regular travels. After 14 months, it has been improving once more like it obviously has the first time I went there. Buildings in construction, roads under renovation. I'm lucky to have witnessed this period of a thriving city.

One proof of the City's progress is an amazing sewerage system. They merged beautification and function and made it work as one. I didn't even realize it at first. Brilliant idea in having the sewer pass through the main highways of the city and not being noticed at all. And just because it was covered by landscapes and art. The water seem to have been treated already since it's almost like just an ordinary river flowing along the roads of Quanzhou.

Marker of the sewerage (behind).

Nothing much happened during the first day, other than meeting of course, new faces in the person of 3 colleagues from the office. Although I knew before hand that my co-auditor and I would be in the same flight with two others from our operations division, in the name of Kenneth and Mikel. I have no face to associate it with. Zero. I learned later too that there's three (Erwin included) and they were the ones we've been guessing to be while we were at NAIA. I was just glad they are nice persons. At least, when I went to approach them due to a badly needed help of contacting our transport from the airport to the office or hotel, I was lucky to have been greeted with smiles and affirmations. I was lucky they weren't the snob ones. We've had the luxury too of being treated by them in a simple dinner party in their pad. Which, favor we returned as well, before we finally returned to the Philippines. Dinner at Sichuan Grilled Fish was sumptuous. I didn't know the exact name if the dish we ordered but what was certain is that the large serving dish was left empty (even the fish bones was in our plates) in minutes. The boys had to order extra rice. Yum!

Dinner served at home by our generous hosts

The restaurant where we treated our hosts for dinner too.

And well of course, there's that meeting with the new personnel (eight of them already) in our office. Oh if I could remember them all, I'm afraid I won't. I could only recall 2 English names, Sam and Darwin. And there's Lili, there's the accountant, the HR, the Treasury and the driver. Again, I could only say ni hao and xiexie  in greeting and thanking them. But at least, my knowledge of basic simplified Chinese improved in the next days, adding shi, meiyou, zao an, xiawu hao, bu keqi, cha, mi fan, bing shui, and of course I could count from, yi, er, san, si, wu  already. Thanks to a tip fro Erwin that Google translate does help a lot. And it did!

Because the weather was just the right cold for any stroll, we did that most often. Walk around. Of course, that is on the occasional breaks from work - to buy our merienda or to eat out for lunch. All of which we enjoy doing because of the side trip - sightseeing and picture-taking!

Shoalin monk crossing

 And on the streets, there's just too many to see and to take photographs of:

Fruit stands on the go.

Their version of our pedicab.

KFC's delivery car - China's hari ng kalsada.

This trip was more work than leisure as compared to last year's when we visited at least three of Quanzhou's attractions: Kaiyuan Temple, Shoalin Temple and the Monument to Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) or we call it Mount Success. And where we went to at least four malls or shopping centers if I'm not mistaken. And where we'd practically go out most of the nights (and day) if we'd have the chance. Perhaps it was understandable for first timers. In this trip, I spent most of my time if not in the office, in the hotel. Work is taken home for the night. Or work is imported from the Philippines (laughs) and done at night.

But this has its moments too. And of course, it's the trying-a-new-food-challenge that would top it all. Where do I start I don't know, but all of which, I may say is just over-the-top great and not bad at all. First on the list is the special sea worm soup served in a dinner sponsored for us. I remembered sitting at the dinner table and taking that first bite while all eyes were on me. I thought I was growing to throw up, because I wasn't really adventurous when it comes to food but I made it - with everybody's support, which later I realize I don't need because the worm didn't taste like one after all (as if I tasted one). The persimmon we bought in the streets, that one-of-a-kind dumpling during one late lunch, the seafood soup and other seafood dishes we had for lunch in Masters restaurant in the newly-opened Wanda Mall in Quanzhou...and the list goes on.

Kamatis in the outside, santol in the inside but tastes chico - Persimmon.

Dumpling

Noodles and Chili Chicken

Bonus: Newly-opened franchise of international brand, BreadTalk.

I didn't miss the chance to try my favorites again - the juiciest and tastiest siopao I have ever tried and the home-made beef noodles. Both of which, was perfect for lunch plus my favorite bottled milk tea. We had to go back twice to that siopao store, since it was already closed the first time. I learned later that it opens thrice daily - 6-8, 10-12, 4-6 (or around those times). Good thing it didn't closed operations. I would have felt really bad. If I'd be given one food to eat for a day, I'd choose that siopao. How ironic because I'm not a fan, but it earned my liking.

The siopao store.

Over all...streets and food filled this trip, not to mention the persons I had casual conversations with, learned from and ultimately made friends.

Xiexie.

Home Away From Home

QUANZOU CITY, CHINA. The first was last year. It was a standard double-bed room and the the second, which was just last week, was a junior suite. I really enjoyed staying for late night work at the latter because I could use the internet-ready flat screen desktop. And although the windows is in Chinese, its navigable. Besides, heavy computer users like me could always find ease in searching for that internet explorer icon.

Anyway, I was really surprised the company gave us a suite. I later remembered I was advised that we would be using a different room this time because the hotel is almost fully-booked. Woah! If this would be the result of full bookings, then so be it always! The room was just so spacious I thought of inviting the whole family to come over (if only). For anyone who doesn't have the luxury to book in hotels, that was already great for me. Haha. In my trips (not business like this), as you know, I take budget rooms, transient houses, inns, etc - never a hotel.

A welcome fruit basket from the friendly Chef Jin of the hotel's restaurant.

Living and work area and a powder room to the right of the alley .

Dresser at the far right and hidden left is a private bath.

Queen-sized bed with fluffy comforters and soft linens and sheets.

Private bath with hot and cold shower and the basic toiletries you need.

Our room, which hosted us for 6 days was more than enough to provide a comfortable sleeping space. The hotel was, a home away from home. And although it felt short in that part of a service where guest will actually be received with welcome speeches (Good day ma'am sir, welcome to Diamond Hotel! We are happy to host you and serve you in your stay!), the smiles from its restaurant staff and the chef, the reserved smirks of the front desk was more than OK. If communication was not a hindrance, then, it would have been better.

Touchdown and Takeoff

XIAMEN CITY, CHINA. I had a very limited experience of the City of Xiamen. I didn't have a chance to go beyond the walls of its airport. So I only had a view of the city from above thru the windows of our plane or a view of it in passing thru the windows of our land transport from and to the airport - nothing more, nothing less. But every view and angle, it's no doubt a beautiful and well-planned city, which I hope to explore in the next visit.

My experience of the city is yet again thru the airport:
Xiamen airport serves flights to and from the city and neighboring districts and towns of Fujian province in China. Its official name is Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport. Its structural design is quite unique from what I grew up looking, NAIA terminals. Xiamen's is more modern and is predominantly circles.

Urban planners of the city have obviously done their home works well.

The airport's exterior is a classic design.

Moving walkway provides convenience to the passengers.

China Duty Free and your comfy seats at your service.

Souvenir shops are everywhere too (background).

And thru the roads from and leading to Xiamen:
We passed through two successive tunnels, the longer one being, Shantou Tunnel at 393 meters and the shorter, Sucuo Tunnel at 353. And through Xian'an Tunnel which, aside from a really grand entrance, boasts also its unbelievable length. Well it took us almost 5 minutes to get out at a speed of 80kph. It connects Xiamen to Xiang'an and is said to be the first subsea tunnel in Mainland China and is about 9 kilometers long.

Landscaped islands is a usual sight along the highways.

Sucuo Tunnel

Shantou Tunnel

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Expressway from Quanzhou to Xiamen.

Xiang'an Tunnel

This trip is my second but the real touchdown in the city still remains to take off. I hope that if a business trip brings me back, I could explore a little of this inviting city.

Ni Hao from Pinas

 

QUANZHOU CITY, FUJIAN, CHINA. A view form Mt. Success (as we call it). The heavy breathing and nonstop sweating after taking more than a hundred steps, was left in oblivion as soon as we reach the top and be presented with a spectacular view of the city we call home for 8 days.

And in all those days, I was witness to a life both very similar and different to where my home was.They have more bikers on the road (and the sidewalk) than pedestrian. Their BMWs, Benzs, Jaguars etc. are our Toyotas and Hondas. And they have, I would commend, a way better urban planning. But it has the same simple feel like our Manila - a Binondo across the globe. They have the same love for street foods and bargains. And though communication was a gap, we still felt the same warmth and hospitality common to most Filipinos. The few locals we knew had so willingly and unselfishly given them...and we're thankful.

And though we only have limited time, we were still lucky to see a little of culture. The Kaiyuan and Shaolin temples are one of those who'd present them. The two pagodas in Kaiyuan temple is tallest in China. As it stands tall in the complex of natural greenery and man-made structures, it also reflects the art, religion and history of the city. And to for the Shaolin temple experience, it was almost like watching a Jet Li or Jackie Chan action flick -- only better.So it's real. They aren't just any tricks. It was all physical and mental preparation and concentration. I was left in awe seeing one Shoalin monk break the iron sheet of maybe half an inch think, by nothing but his bald head. Everyone was speechless for a few seconds and there was loud applause after. 

Quanzhou City in Fujian province of the People's Republic of China may not be as popular as the bigger cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen and Guangzhou (yes, watch the spelling) but it builds the same memories of an authentic China trip.