L- Huang Yan strikes a pose in front of one of the Kaiyuan Temple Pogadas...they are set far apart.

Although, I had some business in Fujian, I was also looking for the 108 Crane style.  To my surprise, the easiest thing to find was Wing Chun style and the most difficult was 108. 

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Hopping on a 'rickshaw' is the best way to get off the beaten track and head down those alleys and lanes.  This old woman shown above was about 70 and she peddaled me and Huang Yan around for half an hour or more in her 'two seater' rickshaw without ever huffing or puffing.  She had been doing that for 45 years...We finally arrived at Kaiyuan Temple, built around 686 AD.  It is marked by a pair of very tall pagodas set in huge grounds and is the most popular tourist spot in Quanzhou.  I found the ancient history and culture of Quanzhou with its modern day mix, most interesting.

Yet, Quanzhou retains its traditional charm and has many historical and cultural sites of interest, such as, the largest Kwan Gong (Guan Di) Temple in China! 

Shown right, the Temple is over shadowed by the high rise buildings in the foreground.  Outside walls are decorated with Dragon and Tiger motifs.  Inside, wall murals depict the life of Guan Yu among his many statues.  I tried snapping a few shots inside but security said no.  Reason being, not to disturb the steady stream of visitors praying for protection.

I boarded an overnight bus in the Pingshan area on my way to Fujian Province during the 2006 holidays. It was a sleeper without seats. Instead, each person has a small supine compartment with a raised back (just big enough to stretch out). I never did get to sleep and sometime before day break we made it to Fujian's Quanzhou City where I said goodbye to all my newly found bus friends and made my way to the Overseas Chinese Hotel for some R & R.

Quanzhou is an ancient city. It has many historical vistas that are easily accessible by foot or tri-cycle style rickshaw since the city is comparitively small.

Once, Marco Polo, in the 13th century, wrote that Quanzhou "is one of the two ports in the world with the biggest flow of merchandise". Today, the main streets flow with internet cafes, Gucci, Rolex, Lexus and Mercedes Benz.

(L)  Looking out the hotel window.

Although, there was no snow in Fujian (Fukien) XMAS 06, I did find Santa Claus!  Everywhere, in small shops and supermarkets, Santa images were bringing in the 'biz' to China.  And not only Fujian!  In Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands of folks crowded the festive XMAS street celebrations that were topped off by one of the most spectacular fireworks displays you'll ever see!  Santa makes regular stops in China these days!

A Merry Fukien Xmas!