SUN YAT-SEN and the FRENCH CONCESSION AGAIN

I know, I keep going back there time after time.  Something draws me to the French Concession; I like to walk through there, and now, maybe I can without fear or concern for being lost. 

I remember the name of Sun Yat-Sen from my own college days, when I took a survey of Far East History one summer.   All I could remember for the longest time was how the instructor paced back and forth across the little mini-stage as he lectured for 90 minutes without notes.   I don't remember the lectures, but the fact that he could walk and talk, not talk and walk, was fascinating.   But Sun Yat-Sen always stood out as someone significant in China's recent history,  overthrowing the Qing Dynasty emperor and struggling against the  warlords, creating an organization that gathered political strength based on sound democratic principles makes him an important character, so it was that I determined, two months ago, that I would get to his place of residence before I left Shanghai. 

 The first house serves as a museum.   It has these artifacts in it. 

 The next house is apparently the former living quarter.  On entering, I put on plastic covers for the shoes.   The house holds the sharp smell of mold.   And there is no picture taking allowed.  Guides stand at every floor to be sure no one breaks any rules. 

                

Done for the day, these worker head for the gate.

See the half circle?

This apparently is a third house; it's undergoing repairs as you can see.   

After the stirring visit I had at Soon Ching-ling's house, I was expecting something of the same here, but I was disappointed.  Where I felt as if something of her spirit was captured in her memorial house, this seemed more a repository of a few artifacts, without the sense of who Dr. Sun Yat-sen was.  Of course history tells us, but the atmosphere I had hoped to find was missing.

On my way to Sun Yat-sen's former residence, I walked past what is becoming my favorite park.  The metro stop was to the east.  I opted to walk down Fuxing Middle Rd, west a couple blocks, then through the Fuxiing Park and then out a southwest gate to Sinon,  the next street.
I posted photos of the rose garden the first time I walked through the park.  This time, I stayed on the southern edge and ended up walking  past the rose garden again.
FUXING PARK

 This is a lovely pond.   Below, people are doing what they always do in the park: playing  cards.

 

This part of the park feels as if it might be part of any of the grand gardens I've visited in Hangzhou or Suzhou or even Yuyuan garden.     And then a short distance away, we get flowers!

 

Do you recognize "Brush Knee"?   Here's the oldest practitioner I've seen.   And people just walked by while he practiced.

And here are the roses, still blooming!