Fengjing June 29, 2010
Posted by freda in China.trackback
On Wednesday, June 16th, Sharon and I went on a “field trip” to the village of Fengjing, about a 1 1/2 hour drive from the city. Sharon had the day off because it was the Dragon Boat Festival. Mr. Shi drove us. The town is famous as the peasant farmer’s painting village, and is also a small water village with a temple and other things to see. Sharon’s and my purpose in going was to view and buy the famous paintings, but first we walked all through the water village.
Fengjing water village
scenic bridges and canals
and ever-present laundry
I love the windows
this reminded me of the Tower Gate in London
scenic canal AND laundry!
Street scenes:
apple cart
Sharon got a great close up!
this lady was cleaning mushrooms
Sharon captured the full scene
roasted frogs for sale (we didn't buy them!)
the meat counter (unwrapped, in the open)
Mr. Shi buying some treat his wife likes (but I didn't)
the next six pictures are taken by Sharon – who is much bolder at taking intimate shots…
these people are playing mahjong - and shooed Sharon away when she took a picture
a sewing shop
when Sharon showed the woman this picture she didn't like it, so let Sharon take another
what a great face
plastic laid down in the main street of the village so this boy could squat and poop!
I love these rural scenes
garbage
and recycling
This town also had an important centre from the Communist Party’s time, including an air raid shelter…
Comrades Sharon and Freda
the whole room
a display of Mao badges
Then to the actual peasant farmer’s painting village…
an explanation of the painting style
buildings decorated in the painting style
more decorated buildings
the painters are also farmers - the vegetable gardens
more gardens
artist at work
detail
her work station
Sharon is thrilled to meet this artist as it turned out she already owned one of her paintings..
she picked cucumbers from her garden for us
We bought a few paintings from this woman – she was so sweet, and very happy to have someone in her shop – it was a quiet day. And then we wandered further down the path…
the path...
and ate lunch at a little local spot. Mr. Shi ordered for us, and Sharon worried about the cleanliness and food, but it was delicious. We shared a bottle of beer, so I figure that killed any bacteria! See us drinking our beer from bowls….
Mr. Shi enjoying Sharon's use of Mandarin
drinking beer out of bowls - and our feast
And again you ask, so what did you buy?? Two from the artist in the photos…
rice planting scene
laundry hanging and shoes drying on the roof
and one larger picture from a shop in the town…
blossoming branches in porcelain vases
The photos don’t do them justice, so you’ll have to visit me in my new home… once I have one! It was a long, hot day, but a very successful shopping adventure.
freda's world adventures 
What a interesting looking village and I love the picture of the laundry and the shoes, so typical
Mom