Steve's Genealogy Blog

The Master-of-Nets Garden

Posted on September 6, 2019 by Steve

The Master-of- Nets Garden is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Suzhou, People’s Republic of China. The garden was originally built in 1174 during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) and, inspired by the simple life of a retired fisherman, was named Yu Yin (渔隐, Fisherman’s Retreat). During the Qing Dynasty, the garden was renamed the Master-of-Nets-Garden.

Entering through the main gate, visitors enter the Sedan Chair Hall where a painting of the gardens adorns one wall and a map of the garden is available.

Painting - Master-of-Nets-Garden — **Painting – Master-of-Nets-Garden**
SOURCE: Painting – Master-of-Nets-Garden (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

Painting - Master-of-Nets-Garden
SOURCE: Painting - Master-of-Nets-Garden (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019. — **Map – Master-of-Nets-Garden**
SOURCE: Map – Master-of-Nets-Garden (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

**Mahogany Sedan Chair**
SOURCE: Mahogany Sedan Chair (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

From the Sedan Chair Hall, visitors pass through a small garden and arrive at the Entry Gate to the Hall of 10000 Volumes. Two carvings adorn the gateway, one depicting the celebration of Gui Ziyi’s birthday, and the other depicting Emperor Wenwang’s visit to a virtuous and talented person.

Celebrating Guo Ziyi's Birthday — **Celebrating Guo Ziyi’s Birthday**
SOURCE: Celebrating Guo Ziyi’s Birthday (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

Emperor Wenwang's visit to a Virtuous and Talented Person — **Emperor Wenwang’s Visit to a Virtuous and Talented Person**
SOURCE: Emperor Wenwang’s Visit to a Virtuous and Talented Person (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

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Suzhou: The Garden City

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Steve

Suzhou, People’s Republic of China is famed for its gardens, including those gardens within the confines of hotels and restaurants.

Suzhou Garden - 1 — **Suzhou Garden – 1**
SOURCE: Suzhou Garden – 1 (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

Suzhou Garden - 2 — **Suzhou Garden – 2**
SOURCE: Suzhou Garden – 2 (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

Suzhou Garden - 3 — **Suzhou Garden – 3**
SOURCE: Suzhou Garden – 3 (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

**Bell in Suzhou Garden**
SOURCE: Bell in Suzhou Garden (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

Chinese Goose (Anser anser domesticus) in Suzhou Garden — **Chinese Goose (****Anser anser domesticus) in Suzhou Garden**
SOURCE: Chinese Goose (*Anser anser domesticus*) in Suzhou Garden (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

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Suzhou: the Venice of the East

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Steve

Suzhou is a major city, northwest of Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, located in the delta of the Yangtze River. It’s many canals have earned it the name “Venice of the East.”

Homes Along a Canal in Suzhou - 1 — **Homes Along a Canal in Suzhou – 1**
SOURCE: Homes Along a Canal in Suzhou – 1 (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

Homes Along a Canal in Suzhou - 2 — **Homes Along a Canal in Suzhou – 2**
SOURCE: Homes Along a Canal in Suzhou – 2 (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

**Lanterns Along a Canal in Suzhou**
SOURCE: Lanterns Along a Canal in Suzhou (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

**Temple in Suzhou**
SOURCE: Temple in Suzhou (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

**Washing Day in Suzhou**
SOURCE: Washing Day in Suzhou (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

**Suzhou Windows**
SOURCE: Suzhou Windows (Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 22 April 2019.

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The Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Steve

My time in Shanghai ended with a trip to the top of the Jin Mao Tower, currently the 3rd tallest building in Shanghai and the 28th tallest building in the world. With the towering building surrounded by rainclouds, the exterior view from the 88th floor was non-existent. Believe it or not, the second photo below is the view through the window at the top of the building. The interior view through the center of the building to the ground floor, however, was amazing!

Jin Mao Tower - Exterior — **Jin Mao Tower – Exterior**
SOURCE: Jin Mao Tower – Exterior (Shanghai, Pudong District, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 21 April 2019.

Jin Mao Tower - View — **Jin Mao Tower – View**
SOURCE: Jin Mao Tower – Interior (Shanghai, Pudong District, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 21 April 2019.

Jin Mao Tower - Interior — **Jin Mao Tower – Interior**
SOURCE: Jin Mao Tower – Interior (Shanghai, Pudong District, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 21 April 2019.

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People’s Square in Shanghai

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Steve

My visit to Shanghai brought me to People’s Square with views of the Shanghai Museum and the city. Unfortunately, the sky was overcast with constant rain. Although the rain was a deterrent to sightseeing, a very industrious entrepreneur did brisk business selling umbrellas to the tourists in People’s Square.

Flowers in Shanghai's People's Square — **Flowers in Shanghai’s People’s Square**
SOURCE: Flowers in Shanghai’s People’s Square (Shanghai, Huangpu District, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 21 April 2019.

The Shanghai Museum - 1 — **The Shanghai Museum – 1**
SOURCE: The Shanghai Museum – 1 (Shanghai, Huangpu District, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 21 April 2019.

The Shanghai Museum - 2 — **The Shanghai Museum – 2**
SOURCE: The Shanghai Museum – 2 (Shanghai, Huangpu District, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 21 April 2019.

Tomorrow Square (below) includes the JW Marriott hotel and executive apartment units. The building with the curved roof in front of Tomorrow Square is the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

From the left in the photo below, the buildings include: the Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World, Samsung Building (lit in gold lights), Shinmao International Plaza, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center (building with lattice roof in front of the Shinmao International Plaza), and Raffles City Shanghai.

Shanghai Skyscrapers -1 — **Shanghai Skyscrapers – 1**
SOURCE: Shanghai Skyscrapers – 1 (Shanghai, Huangpu District, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 21 April 2019.

The two tallest buildings in the photo below are the Lan Sheng Building on the left and the Golden Bell Mansion with the cone-shaped roof.

Shanghai Skyscrapers - 2 — **Shanghai Skyscrapers – 2**
SOURCE: Shanghai Skyscrapers – 2 (Shanghai, Huangpu District, People’s Republic of China); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 21 April 2019.

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Shanghai Garden

Posted on September 1, 2019 by Steve

I visited a restaurant with a beautiful garden in Shanghai, China. Shanghai Municipality is the second most highly populated city proper in the world with over 24 million residents. By comparison, New York City has a population of about 8.4 million.