Daxiangshan Cultural Exhibition Park

This morning—after sleeping in, of course—the first thing we did was go back up to the rooftop garden, where we enjoyed freshly picked fruit and vegetables. Afterwards, we had breakfast on our way to an exhibition.

The exhibition featured wooden statues and sculptures that were truly impressive. Thanks to the translation function on my phone, I also learned some fascinating facts about the artworks and the wood they were made from. For example, the wood used for the two large lions grows by only one centimeter every hundred years, making it exceptionally valuable. I also learned that the artist tries to create a symbiosis between the natural shape of the wood and the figure he wants to depict. In other words, wherever the natural form of the wood already suggested part of the intended subject, he deliberately left it untouched. It almost seemed as if every piece of wood already had a destiny before it was carved, with the artist revealing it while producing remarkably little waste. It reminded me of the great Italian sculptors of the Renaissance. I had no idea that pieces of wood this enormous even existed—truly astonishing!

After the exhibition, the focus once again shifted to food—in other words, we went to eat again. I have the feeling that if things continue like they have over the past few days, I'll soon regain all the weight I lost during my journey. Of course, I'm happily eating everything myself, but being constantly encouraged to have another helping is very much part of Chinese culture, and it definitely has an effect on me.

The afternoon was, of course, reserved for resting—it was simply too hot outside anyway. In the evening, we once again enjoyed a relaxed gathering at home over a delicious dinner. I have the feeling that I'm understanding more and more of the lively conversations between Gugu, Gufu, and Wenxin, although I still don't understand everything. More generally, this journey has given me even more motivation to continue improving my Chinese. The basics are now quite solid, and everyday conversations come quite naturally, but once the topics become more specific, I still find them challenging. Yet that's exactly where things become truly interesting. As your command of the language deepens, so does your understanding of the culture—especially in the case of Chinese. I feel that this journey has significantly deepened my understanding of Chinese culture, but just like my language skills, there is still plenty of room for growth.