Du Fu's Cottage

Du Fu was an acclaimed Chinese poet who lived around 750 AD.  He is revered by the Chinese as much as Shakespeare, Milton, Burns or Wordsworth are in the western world.  Like Thoreau, he too built a humble cottage, a place where he could write many of the more than 1500 poems he has to his credit.  Last week we went to visit this historical site in Chengdu.  While the cottage was quaint, I was taken more by the beauty of the grounds surrounding his home.
Below are a few pictures to help you get the feel...

Below, I found a young girl who was helping her mother plant grass on the grounds.  She was working very hard and was a bit embarrassed when I took her picture...

I conclude this entry with a parting shot.  A grandfather taking his grandson for a walk; a very typical sight.  It warms the heart to see so many grandparents spending time with their grandchildren. The parents are typically working, and the grandparents care for the children during the day.  There are usually 3 generations living in a home.  Note the slit in the back of the pants.  They do not wear diapers in China.  This part of the culture is a bit different from what you and I are used to.  It is not unusual to see a parent or grandparent assisting the child in public places to go to the bathroom on the floor or sidewalk, wherever they are standing.  One must watch his or her step!