About Ray

email: rmahoney58@yahoo.com , new Guiyang tel: 187 9860 2861, also: 86-152 5582 4713, 86-136 7173 7017 . In China 18 years, Ray (55 years old) has also taught in Shanghai, Beijing, Shiyan (Hubei), Kuitun (Xinjiang), Lanzhou, Changchun and elsewhere. Was in China-related business in the 1980s and 90s, and in the NGO sector both as a volunteer and in full-time positions. Has also been to India and Pakistan. As of August 2013, Ray is in Guiyang, Guizhou province, to work in a private middle school there, the Guiyang American-Canadian International School 贵阳美加国际学校. A newly created Flickr site, "GoGuiyang," has photos and articles to help people new to Guiyang, like myself, settle in quickly. See the photos arranged into sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/sets/ Also active on Siwawa58 (where I dump my ESL materials), see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98498293@N05/page1/?details=1, and I re-post material from Youtube (blocked in China) to Tudou and Youku, see: Youku "gelatiao58" http://www.soku.com/search_video/q_gelatiao58?f=1&kb=0412000000000__gelatiao58) and Tudou "gelatiao" http://www.soku.com/t/nisearch/gay%20men%20s%20chorus).

old photos of Guiyang

men’s fashions, 1940s Guiyang 贵阳人的穿着

this and many photos below found at: http://shanshuiqiancheng.soufun.com/bbs/3314011348~-1/53710480_53710480.htm,  set of old photos of Guiyang uploaded at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/sets/72157634952466595/with/9485648640

 

Guiyang No. 3 Middle School 贵阳三种, 1949 photo, then later bldg on Yangming Rd  阳明路上的老三中, and the current building

在30年代初期,贵阳还几乎没有什么汽车,城中心的大十字到处都是人力车。

former Water Fountain (now paved over) 喷水池, Guiyang

【黔城往事】“喷水池”最后一瞥 作者:黔山毛豆 日期:2010-02-25
现在就是历史。贵阳市最繁华的“喷水池”原名“铜像台”,因铸造有周西成一尊铜像而得名。1933年开始筹建,历时两年半,于1935年夏建成。19 52年拆除铜像,改建为街心花园,中有喷泉,称为喷水池。此后,喷水池经过数度改造,终成为照片中的模样。2010年2月18日凌晨,喷水池拆除工程 动工,将拆除现有环岛和雕塑,改为十字交叉口;在交叉口设置四个交通导流岛,导流岛内设喷泉小品和绿化,兼顾城市景观和延续“喷水池”历史传统。拆除 以后,那个被贵阳人称为“巨大背篼”的城市雕塑将如何处置?择地放置?当废金属卖掉?或是融掉?

(from www.qtwm.com/default.asp?tag=%E9%BB%94%E5%9F%8E%E5%BE%80%… )

1930s Guiyang postal delivery   30年代贵阳的一个邮政局,大量的邮件正等待运出

Guizhou University, early phtoto 1942年成立的国立贵州大学

http://img1.soufun.com/bbs/2011_12/06/18/guiyang/1323166809645_000.jpg

 

Jiaxiulou, in Qing era photo 甲秀楼,

from www.gzbs.cn/photo/old/2009/0422/29979_3.html

from www.gzbs.cn/photo/old/2009/0422/29979_4.html


photo

What happened to Guiyang’s memorial arches to women’s faithfulness on Youzha Road? Answer: Houses went up around them !

后来的油榨街的贞洁牌坊,贵阳

油榨街原来是这样的
这条到排满了贞洁牌坊的道路,就是后来的油榨街,表彰的是烈女节妇,记录的却是女人的命运,现在早已荡然无存……
一个担着货物进城的农民走在这样一条石头铺就的道路上,也算当时的一条大道了吧?

– – –

【黔城往事】最后的牌坊:高张氏节孝坊 作者:黔山毛豆 日期:2009-02-05
贵阳老牌坊照片中的这些老贵阳牌坊位于今天的油榨街附近,是十九世纪下半叶到过贵阳的法国人拍摄的,这些牌坊沿道路整齐排列非常壮观。二十世纪中叶, 老贵阳城及其附近先后有牌坊多达数百个,“在贵阳城内走不了几步就有一座牌坊”。但由于自然风化、年久失修、战争、城镇扩张、以及1949年以后的历 史事件导致的严重破坏,在2002年出版的《贵阳掌故》一书记载说,老贵阳这数百座牌坊均已不存。

但在2003年9月,贵阳市南岳巷10号一片低矮、零乱的民宅中有人发现这座基本保存完好的,始建于清道光二十一年的牌坊——高张氏节孝坊。于是,在 幸免的老牌坊再被发现之前,这座牌坊就是贵阳城区唯一幸存的古牌坊,也是贵阳至今仅存的四座古牌坊之一。其余三座古牌坊全部位于青岩古镇,分别是建于 道光十九年的“赵彩章百岁坊”、建于道光二十三年的“赵理伦百岁坊”、建于同治八年的“周王氏、媳刘氏节孝坊”。

在陈正军的《贵阳牌坊话沧桑》文中,对这座“高张氏节孝坊”有着详细的介绍:“高张氏节孝坊”建于道光二十一(1841)年,竣工完成于道光二十二( 1842)年,高8米宽9米,从牌坊上文字可辨认出,牌坊呈南北走向,正面朝北,形制为三间四柱四阿顶式石结构,中间石坊上立斗型斗拱,中斗拱有“圣 旨”,其余斗拱为神话传说浮雕图案;下部边柱有抱鼓石,中额石坊左右雕饰龙戏珠图(现已有裂痕,易毁落)。该坊之顶有圣旨,坊四柱均有石刻对联,其中 中柱两侧联是:“茶类遭逢夫叹螟蛉子叹螟蛉半生冰雪留孤影;□贞偏附娣伤鸾凤姒伤鸾凤万古云霄矢此心”,正面次楼额匾刻写:“道光二十二年十月二十三 日□□两浙运副贵筑县学附生大弟廉男培昀奉旨谨建”,小额匾刻:“处士张成瑶之……”背面次楼匾书:“道光二十一年……,匾下刻:“广东广州府知府高 廷遥”。它已是贵阳市区保留的唯一古牌坊了。

在儒风的《贵阳古今牌坊(续)》中,关于这座“高张氏节孝坊”有如下文字:据牌坊所在的民居户主许弟兴老人讲,他家是在上世纪(黔山毛豆注:二十世纪 )三十年代末住在那里,他说那里原有六个排列的牌坊,“高张氏节孝坊”排在最后一个,“文革”时曾有人想把它弄掉,因为其一民居狭窄,不便拖拉,其二 ,该牌坊位置离地面较高,也不易施工,随着时间推移,渐渐被人们忘记了。

我的“宝马”车,走街窜巷得靠它。

隐藏在破旧民居中的“高张氏节孝坊”,不太好找。

住在牌坊“里”的人家。

藏在民居里,缺乏保护的,贵阳市区唯一的古牌坊啊。

贵阳市仅存的,唯一的古牌坊——高张氏节孝坊。与其他历史、文化厚重的城市比起来,贵阳本来就没有什么可说道的,现在好不容易阴差阳错意外的有那么一 点点“文物古迹”,但却完全没有得到应有的保护,再不保护就不用保护了,没了还保护什么?

Tags: 黔城往事 贵阳 牌坊 高张氏节孝坊

from http://www.qtwm.com/default.asp?tag=%E9%BB%94%E5%9F%8E%E5%BE%80%E4%BA%8B&page=3 ,  http://www.gzbs.cn/photo/old/2009/0422/29979_7.html , http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9483475877/sizes/l/in/set-72157634952466595/ ,

WW2 British army officers passed thru Guiyang in 1942 escaping Japanese takeover of Hong Kong, going to Burma Road

Officers enjoying a day out in Guiyang, Jan 26 1942

photos from : www.hongkongescape.org/Legge.htm,  uploaded at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9512944499/

Some of the Officers enjoying a day out in Guiyang with their female hosts who were from Shanghai

Sub-Lt Gee, Sub-Lt Brewer, Sub-Lt Legge, Lt parsons, Lt Kennedy. . Sub-Lt David Legge in the centre had lived in Shanghai and spoke the language, and so was the interpreter. Sophie Lim, and the Chen sisters.

On the right is Lt Alexander Kennedy of MTB 09, the author of the self published book “Hong Kong Full Circle”

www.hongkongescape.org/Escape_09-9.htm

Guiyang -Huachi Park, Jan-1942 ‘Escape from Hong Kong’

= = =
23rd January 1942 (Fri)

Officers enjoying a social outing during their stay in Kweiyang 26th Jan 42 ;
Dr Lim’s daughter Effie is wearing a kilt and spoke her native tongue with a Glasgow accent.
Click here to enlarge ;

Photo from Alex Kennedy’s collection © L/S Les Barker: “Dawn start, on the way to Kwei-Ang. The road is very treacherous, covered with a layer of mud and all the time we are climbing. Raining very fine rain so it doesn’t give the road a chance to dry up. Plenty of traffic on the roads, and we also see Shetland ponies with bells on their heads. Sometimes these ponies were 40 or 50 in a line, led by one or two men.
We were skidding a lot this morning on this murderous road. 1015 – And our lorry failed to negotiate an ‘S’ bend and, before we knew what was happening, we toppled over, taking a complete turn and a half. Luckily we only had four injured, but if we had gone over once more there was a drop of 100 feet and we should have all been killed.
After, the lorry was hauled back to the right way up and, after treating the wounded and getting them away in another lorry, we piled back into the same lorry and proceeded again to Kweiyang, very much shaken by our experience and leaving the road littered with eggs and oranges.
Driving more carefully after that, we finally arrived at Kweiyang and were met by a party of Chinese Red Cross who had everything prepared, clothing, cigarettes, hot baths, etc. Very much appreciated by all hands.” [24]

MTB 07’s Fair Log: “On again at 7 am. Truck with Lt Collingwood overturned some 90km from Kweiyang. Three or four casualties—not serious, one with fractured collarbone. Last truck left Thulsaban? At 6.45 am. Maclongping At noon; sick man put in ambulance. Left at 2pm, arrived Kweiyang 7 pm.” [5]

L/S Les Barker “The road was treacherous and inches deep in mud. Just before the end of the journey, the lorry in which I and 13 companions were travelling failed to negotiate an “S” bend and turned a double somersault.” [24]

Lt Collingwood RN: “One truck skidded and turned and five men were hurt but it was put back on the road and we continued.” [8]

Sub-Lt Legge HKRNVR: “My truck, which was second in the convoy had about fifteen men inside with me in the back between two fifty gallon gasoline drums looking out backwards. My Captain (Collingwood) was in front with the driver. Going round a steep corner, we started to skid. On the off side was a drop of several hundred feet. Luckily we hit a large stone at the outside of the road, turned around across the road and turned over.
I didn’t realise what was happening until I found myself sitting in the mud in the road with the truck on top of me. The truck had only iron hoops and a canvas cover and we would all have been squashed had it not been for the fact that one of the gasoline drums fell on end with the end of the truck sitting on top of it.
We were in a pretty pickle, 80 kilometers from the nearest telephone, sitting in the rain and mud and no way of getting immediate help. Then as I was attending to one of the men who had a deep cut above the eye, he pointed out that blood was pouring down my face.
There were two other men fairly badly hurt, but except for extensive abrasions we couldn’t find out what was the matter. Then luckily the next truck came along. We transferred the wounded into that and with myself in the front set off 80 km. to Kweiyang where there was the nearest hospital. It was a terrible ride as not only was the road very bad with all the rain that was coming down, but the wounded men were in rather bad shape.
We had morphine with us but didn’t like to give it in case they had to have an immediate operation on arrival and couldn’t be given any more anesthetics.” [18]

L/S Les Barker: “Luckily only four were injured – but if the vehicle turned over once more it would have fallen 100 feet and the whole party would certainly have been killed. The Chinese driver wept. From then on he drove more carefully.” [24]

A/B Lenny Rann: “The road was full of hairpin bends and the truck in which I was riding capsized and several of the occupants were injured.” [66]

Dr Lim & Lt C J Collingwood R. N. with others in Guiyang
Photo from the Ashby collection ©
They eventually arrive at the Chinese International Red Cross headquarters in Guiyang, four thousand feet up in the mountains, which is the medical centre for the Chinese Army. Dr Robert Lim known by all as Bobby, a physiologist met them on arrival, he was educated at the “George Watson College” in Edinburgh and had married a Scots woman. He had served on the Western Front with British forces in the Great War of 1914-18. He set up the Chinese Red Cross after the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1937. He was also a former golfing partner of Admiral Chan Chak. Lt Ron Ashby arrived later by ambulance. There they attended to the party’s injuries to the best of their abilities and Lt-Cmdr Gandy procured funds which enabled the party to do some essential shopping. They were billeted within the hospital complex.

PO Buddy Hide: “On the way a lorry overturned and three men suffered with broken bones. Guiyang is the medical centre for the Chinese Army. There they attended to our injuries to the best of their abilities and supplied us with Red Cross ambulances to take us to Lashio, in Burma.” [21]

Sub-Lt Legge HKRNVR: “The Chinese Red Cross has a wonderful hospital at Kweiyang, all mat sheds but very well run. They were prepared for us as we had arranged in advance to stay with them for a day or two. We found that two chaps had broken shoulder blades among other minor things. I had to have seven stitches put in the top of my head, which was not so pleasant as it was about five hours after the accident.” [18]

L/S Les Barker: “At Kuel-Ang, the Chinese Red Cross had everything prepared – food, beds, hot baths, clothing and cigarettes.” [24]

Lt Kennedy RNVR: “Accommodation for the whole party had been prepared in the hospital camp lying in a fold of the hills called Tuyunkwan, where Dr Lim took us himself and showed us around the huts. The meaning of Tuyunkwan we were told was cloud-earth-pass.” [9]

Eddie Brazel (HKRNVR): “Here we stayed at the headquarters of the Chinese International Red Cross, who had a wonderful place. During our stay of three days in Kweiyang we had a marvelous time, being entertained by Governor Wu amongst others, in addition we played the training school at football.” [49]

John Grindlay

Photo from Prof Al Lathrop, University of Minnisota collection ©There was also a visiting American Army surgeon with the American Military Mission to China (AMMISCA), 1st-Lt Dr. John Grindlay, of the U.S. Army Reserve.

US Army 1st-Lt Dr Grindlay: “About 2 p.m. great excitement — the 40 refugee sailors & Officers who escaped Xmas day from Hong Kong arrived — 32 in the first bunch. Rain & mud on road & one truck had skidded off & turned on side — resulting in several injuries — lacerations. Nearly all bearded.
The overturned truck came on a little later than first 2 & it was evening before Gandy & several officers & a sick man [Ashby] with] suspected typhoid came on. Altogether 16 officers, rest “ratings” Brewer, Legge, Collingwood, Kennedy, Gee, & Parsons were younger officers.
First men all slipped & skidded through mud to new barracks. These cleaned up & fires in gas drum stoves going. I am sure the arrangements pleased the men, also sure they didn’t know at what effort that had been arranged, & the cost of things procured — as the entire Chungking gin supply of Bobby’s (Dr Lim) they drank — Dr T F Chang — They drank 16 catties (1 1/3 pints) of mine.
Gandy, a retired Lt-Cmdr on active duty, very thoughtless and demanding type & not liked by the men.”
He had a long talk with Parsons who stated “Battle of Hong Kong a huge Brit disaster.” [37]

The party were given the freedom of the City after a speech by General Wu at the City hall and each was given a card showing the primitive life of the Chinese tribes, sealed with the Governor’s private seal and signature.

A/B Lenny Rann: “On January 23rd we arrived at the Chinese International Red Cross premises at Guiyang, where we were again well looked after and were given the freedom of the city by the governor.” [66]

At 4 p.m. they had a cinema show put on by the Red Cross followed by a few sketches put on by the navy party which brought hoots of laughter. Dr Lim offered the use of his Red Cross Ambulances to transport the party to Kunming, the Chinese end of the Burma Road as they were driving there empty to pick up medical supplies.

Gandy giving a speech in Goiyang accompanied by Pittendrigh & Brewer ©

Lt-Cmdr Gandy RN accompanied by Lieut Pintendrigh RNR, and Sub-Lieut Brewer HKRNVR giving a speech in Guiyang.

24th January 1942 (Sat)

MTB 07’s Fair Log: “Visit to Governor in the morning. Conducted tour of centre in the afternoon, followed by a tea, & movies after dinner.” [5]

Lieutenant Commander Gandy R. N. (Rtrd) “Each member was given a memento of the visit.” [15]

Lt Collingwood RN: “Luckily my sub-lieutenant spoke Chinese so we were normally in the van for the feeding and sleeping arrangements.” [8]

Sub-Lt Legge HKRNVR: “We all bunked in a large dormitory, which had big stoves in the center, heaven to us after the places we had been sleeping. Also we had our first decent liquor. They were very good to us and we were looked after like kings. There were one or two pretty ex-Shanghai girls there, with whom I spent most of my time the next few days, rather, I think, to the jealousy of other less fortunate officers.” [18]

Major Goring had now recovered from his malaria attack at Kukong and proceeded by train to Kweilin and from there by air to Chungking. Lt-Col Harry Owen-Hughes and Dr Moore took him to the station.

Maj Goring BHQ: “After tea I said goodbye to the gallant little Admiral, whom I was very sorry to leave. I had liked him well in Hong Kong, and grown to love him during our journey, for he had shown himself not only a man of infinite pluck and resource, but also extremely thoughtful for others.” [17]

25th January 1942 (Sun)

Visit to Local Park at Huachi followed by soccer match in the afternoon, losing 6-1 against the Red Cross training school. Also in the afternoon a visit to the British run “Friends Ambulance Brigade” that was passing through Guiyang on their way into China. Kennedy soon spotted a A day out in Huachi park
Photo from the Hide family collection ©fellow Scot, Andy Braid, who it turned out had his pipes with him. As it was Burns night they took turns on the pipes.

MTB 07’s Fair Log: “Visit to park (Huachi) in the morning. Soccer match in afternoon, we lost 6-1. Dinner in the evening given by Governor.” [5]

Lt Kennedy RNVR: “I met a Scotsman in the wilds at the back of beyond. He used to go out into a rice field and play his bagpipes, to the great amazement of the local children and hordes of mongrel dogs which joined in the chorus.
The hut we were in was a small one and very soon indignant protests from the other members of the party forced us outside. It was getting dark as we played in turn along the edge of a paddy-field, some of the old marches from school-days, Barren Rocks, Pibroch of Donald Dhu, and the poignant notes of Loch Duich. We were totally absorbed and only when we stopped realised that a large crowd of children were watching us with aw from a safe distance with all the dogs in the neighborhood howling in the background.” [9]

In the evening they were all invited to a farewell dinner laid on by the Governor, who unfortunately was unable to attend. The evening passed with Dr Lim reciting “Ode to a Haggis” much to everyone’s surprise.[9] A very enjoyable evening was had by all with much local rice wine being consumed to the many shouts of “Kan-Pi.”

Lt Kennedy RNVR: “Many decided to leave the party before the national anthems were sung, but one resolute member, formerly the Coxswain of MTB 10 (CPO Thums) who had stayed too long was seen to stiffen like a ramrod during ‘The King,’ although he was lying flat on his face on the floor. The instant the singing stopped he shot to his feet as if revived and made for the door.” [9]

26th January 1942 (Mon)

Brucy the ships dog

Photo from the Collingwood family collection © Dr Lim’s daughter Effie who “wore the kilt and spoke her native tongue with a Glasgow accent” [9] Effie accepted Bruce the ships dog as a pet.
Luckily for most it was a late start for Kunming, leaving at noon, with Kelly & Deakin in hospital recovering from the lorry crash.
The convoy of five Red Cross ambulances were boarded. Now with Ashby fit enough to travel they made their way down the hill towards the city of Guiyang, picking up the main Chungking to Kunming highway, The Burma Road. The road across the plateau was extremely bumpy passing through many fortified village wall-gates, with the ever present choking dust in the open ended trucks.

MTB 07’s Fair Log: “Left for Kunming about noon. Reached ANHSUN late afternoon.” [5]

Eddie Brazel (HKRNVR): “We left Kweiyang on the 26th for Kunming, via Anshan, Annan, Penghu, Kut Sing, and arrived in Kunming on the 29th.” [49]

The drivers were much better than the party had experienced in the past, stopping hourly to keep the convoy together and refreshments.

(from www.hongkongescape.org/Legge.htm )

Also:

American soldier in Guiyang in the 1940s 二战时代美国士兵在贵阳

贵阳第二个比较大的发展时期,大概是抗战时期了。当时,贵州成了大后方,全国各地有大量的人涌入了贵阳,使这个小城市的人口迅速增加到了40多万,于 是,到1941年,贵阳开始正式设市。城市建设也有了发展。在当时大十字的岗亭上,不仅有西门子的大钟显示这个城市的“现代”,而且还有值勤中国** 和美国士兵。 from http://shanshuiqiancheng.soufun.com/bbs/3314011348~-1/53710480_53710480.htm

Catholic churches, Guiyang: ‘North’ Church, near Youyi Rd 贵阳北天主教堂,近友谊路; South Church Xinhua Rd & Xinglong Rd 贵阳南天主堂, 位于贵阳新华路与兴隆街交汇处


photo

Guiyang ‘North’ Catholic Church, near Youyi Rd 贵阳北天主教堂

Biggest in Guizhou province, built in 1875 in a mixture of Western and Chinese styles.  Masses on Sunday at 9:00 am and 7:00 pm. There is an active seminary training Chinese priests at the site.  Map:

interior

front detail, incl. rose window, date of consturction  创建时间和玫瑰花窗

before restoration, from www.chiyou.name/page/new/2007/ywdls/

See many Guiyang historical photos, including this church, described in a Chinese article at: http://shanshuiqiancheng.soufun.com/bbs/3314011348~-1/53710480_53710480.htm

十九世纪的贵阳天主教堂。清乾隆三十九年(1774年)天主教传入贵阳。道光三十年(1850年)天主教贵州教区第一任主教白斯德望修建了贵阳第一所 正式天主教堂。同治十三年贵州主教李万美将原教堂拆除重建,光绪元年因火灾使即将完成的教堂付之一炬,后再行重建,于次年完工,即今上北堂之大教堂。 目前,贵阳北天主教堂仍是全省天主教的中心和最大的教堂。

images from : www.chiyou.name/page/lzp/btzt.htm , from www.17u.com/blog/article/1519083.html ,  uploaded at http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9480998747/in/set-72157634952466595 , http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9483733368/in/set-72157634952466595/

Guiyang’s “South” Catholic Church 贵阳南天主堂, 位于贵阳新华路与兴隆街交汇处

Article in Chinese with photos of this and still other Catholic churches and related buildings in various stages of repair, at: www.xiangtu.org/archives/286.html , photo and aricle in Chinese uploaded at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9481304907/in/set-72157634952466595/

Zimmer Foundation for China, for Tongren city, Guizhou prov.

 

from www.zimmerfoundation.org/about/index.php

The Zimmer Foundation for China was established to implement holistic programs to improve the economic and spiritual conditions in rural Guizhou. The Zimmer Foundation is a US 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization established in memory of Rev. & Mrs. Gerald R. Zimmer who served in China 1936-1948.
Rev. & Mrs. Gerald R. Zimmer were Educators who, in the middle 1930s decided they wanted to be missionaries and went to China to preach and teach. They went to a very remote area in the interior, to a small town of Tongren. There they lived with the people, learned their language and customs and worked to improve their situation.

They saw a need for teachers and help to found the Tongren Teachers College, which has since grown to be a full fledged university; Tongren University. The same desire Rev. & Mrs. Zimmer had to support needy students with scholarships is being carried on today with the generosity of people like you.

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The Zimmer Foundation initiated a scholarship program in 2004 that supports the major cost of education for students annually for the second, third and final years at Tongren University. Now, over twenty students have been provided scholarships. It was our vision that at least two students will be added each year over a ten year program. Many donors have allowed us to exceed our visions of the scholarship program. The selection of the students is based upon their academic achievements and financial needs. The student’s family is identified with an income at or less than the poverty level established by the Tongren prefecture officials.
In villages of rural China, many students are the first of their family to complete college. Zimmer Foundation has arranged to financially support specific students with financial needs. The eligibility for receipt of such scholarships is first year college students with academic excellence who come from very poor families. Often these are children of farmers whose annual income is less than $264 USD. The families earn below the declared poverty level defined by each county.

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Peace Corps China blog : My Life as a Complex Adaptive System

The Zimmer Foundation

2010 November 8, Posted by sky

This a short post tonight because it is so late, but I have a great story to tell. Since I arrived in Tongren, I have heard about a man affectionately called “uncle Stan.” His parents were missionaries in China and helped set up a hospital as well as the first church in Tongren. Several years ago, uncle Stan set up a foundation called the Zimmer Foundation. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in rural China, specifically by investing in education. The foundation sponsors a scholarship fund that relieves the financial burden that many of the students, who come from remote farming villages, face at Tongren University.

I had the pleasure of meeting uncle Stan today and I must say that he is quite an amazing man. I found out that he was born in Tongren and lived here for 5 years before moving to America. He had a long, illustrious career with IBM and since he retired has dedicated his life to helping people in his “hometown”.

His story and what he is doing is extremely inspirational and I wanted to include the link to his foundation’s website for you to have a look. Hooray for good people!  zimmerfoundation.org/index.php

(taken from Sky Lantz-Wagner’s blog, skylantzwagner.blog.com/2010/11/08/the-zimmer-foundation/ )

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Measurable holistic services provided to needy students
1. Over 30 University Scholarships in rural China
a. Goal of minimun two each year
b. Meet total tutition and board for three years
c. Regular visits; banquets, outtings
2. Encouragement to local church
a. Regular visits and updates
b. Provision of Bibles and study materials
c. Provision of furnishing and church needs
3. Outreach to Local orphange
a. Encourgment to orphans
b. Visitation by scholarship students
c. Medical support
d. Collaboration with other NGOs

(from Stan Zimmer’s LinkedIn page,http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=35057346&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=uZSq&locale=en_US&srchid=1285106101376488877548&srchindex=3&srchtotal=5&trk=vsrp_people_res_photo&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId:1285106101376488877548,VSRPtargetId:35057346,VSRPcmpt:primary )

 

Chinese saying mentioning Guizhou: Qian Lv Ji Qiong (The Donkey Has Exhausted Its Tricks) – 黔驴技穷 : 黔 qian = Guizhou

from (from chinese.hm68.com/index.php/chinese-idioms/17-the-donkey-o… ; history.cultural-china.com/en/38History2824.html ;mychinaconnection.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/guizhou-… ; dictionary.kaide.net/char/9ed4/%E9%BB%94 ;www.nciku.com/search/zh/detail/%E9%BB%94/32354 ) ; uploaded at:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9517232920/in/photostream

karst geological formations: Those weird hills!

written about Guilin, but applies to Guizhou’s karst as well:   “Guilin’s most renowned feature is its dramatic karst terrain. Rising sharply at odd angles, limestone peaks look like giant teeth growing out of the green plain. Karst topography is characterized by many caverns and sinkholes that form by the dissolution of limestone or other carbonate rocks. Florida and Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley are good examples of where karst can be found in the United States. However, the topography looks completely different from that in China, thanks to conditions that exposed China’s karst and eroded its softer limestone faster. The specific conditions for forming the magnificent topography of Guilin “are fourfold,” according to Ray Beiersdorfer, a geologist at Youngstown State University in Ohio. “First, you need hard, compact carbonate rock. In Guilin, it’s Devonian limestone. Secondly, you need strong uplift, in this case provided by the collision of India with Asia to form the Himalaya. Third, you need a Monsoon climate of high moisture during the warmest season. Finally, the area must not have been scoured by glaciers, which this region wasn’t.”

Two types of karst landscapes predominate in Guilin: fenglin or peak forest (isolated towers) and fengcong or peak cluster (linked-base towers). The two types may have evolved sequentially from peak forest to peak cluster, or they may have evolved simultaneously. Beiersdorfer described this landscape, which he saw during a recent visit to China: “China in general and the Guilin area specifically boasts some of the most spectacular karst topography in the world.” ” (from www.geotimes.org/apr07/article.html?id=Travels0407.html )

Karst
Huge areas of China’s Southwest comprise visually spectacular landscapes featuring karst – weathered limestone formations. In China, limestone has been created from fossilized prehistoric sea floor sediments, brought to the surface by geological upheavals. The exposed alkaline limestone is then eroded by naturally-occurring acidic rain. Above ground, this results in anything from closely packed “stone forests,” poking a few meters skywards, to the huge conical hills covering half of Guizhou, and the tall, elegant pinnacles around Guilin. Underground, percolating water and subterranean rivers carve out long, interlinked caverns, hung with oddly shaped rock formations.
Karst formation
Southwest China’s thick and fractured pure limestone has led to a dramatically eroded landscape. The warm wet climate speeds up the weathering of limestone by acid rainwater and chemicals in rotting plants.
1. Surface streams lose water to cave systems developing in the limestone. Surface drainage is diverted down sink holes to below the water table.
Karst landscape
This cut-away artwork shows an idealized karst landscape, with all the features shown together. Karst topographies usually have a thick layer of cave-ridden limestone, and then, depending on the area’s geology and the age of the formation, a few of the features shown here.
Fenglin karst, which translates as peak-forest karst, is characterized by peaks that rise near vertically, like trees, 100 to 250 feet (30 to 80 m) above the surrounding flat floodplains. These dramatic tower-like karsts are found in and around the city of Guilin.
1. Surface streams lose water to cave systems developing in the limestone. Surface drainage is diverted down sink holes to below the water table.2. Peaks develop from the land left after erosion by the streams. The cave system gets larger as fast-moving subsurface streams bore through the limestone, and the water table drops.3. Much of the limestone has eroded past the caves down to a layer of shale. Limestone peaks remain, many fractured with small, waterless caves.
Caves that open out into large halls filled with stunning limestone formations are found throughout karst areas. Minerals deposited by losing streams and water drainage create the strange shapes.
Fengcong karst, or peak-cluster karst, differ from the straight-sided fenglin. Their peaks are more cone-shaped and one hill meets the next across a depression or doline. Superb fengcong landscape can be seen near the small town of Xingping.
The Li River cuts through an impressive variety of karst hills. Cruises start in Guilin with fenglin, which gradually give way to dense fengcong.
Stone forests, such as Shi Lin outside Kunming, are karst formations created by the retreating waters of ancient seas, and wind and rain erosion.
Fenglin karst, which translates as peak-forest karst, is characterized by peaks that rise near vertically, like trees, 100 to 250 feet (30 to 80 m) above the surrounding flat floodplains. These dramatic tower-like karsts are found in and around the city of Guilin.
Caves that open out into large halls filled with stunning limestone formations are found throughout karst areas. Minerals deposited by losing streams and water drainage create the strange shapes.
Fengcong karst, or peak-cluster karst, differ from the straight-sided fenglin. Their peaks are more cone-shaped and one hill meets the next across a depression or doline. Superb fengcong landscape can be seen near the small town of Xingping.
The Li River cuts through an impressive variety of karst hills. Cruises start in Guilin with fenglin, which gradually give way to dense fengcong.    from (http://www.chinaspree.com/china-travel-guide/china-guizhou-guangxi-tours.html )

images uploaded at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9455307987/in/set-72157634969798328 and http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9458080460/in/set-72157634969798328/

Jax Tea Party – video about living in Guiyang and teaching children English at a private school, Jack Porter, 2011

See Jack (John S. Portman,johnsporter@gmail.com) tell about his time in China.  Video viewable direct on Youku, title: “BNC_Jax_Tea_Party_121008 ” , v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDYwMjI0NDg4.html

caption: This is a video about living in Guiyang and teaching children English at a private school.  This movie was made a couple years ago when I worked for the Tian Tian English School 田田英语.

Also viewable on this website: www.tourguizhou.net/category/jack/page/3/(embedded at the bottom of the page).