Confucius Temple Road

"Something becomes personal when it deviates from the norm." -Kathryn Bigelow

When I travel, I come close to every predictable tourist trap, which can be unavoidable at times. However, there are occasions when I desire to be a part of the norm and experience uncomplicated procedures to all site attractions: "go with the flow!"

Located in the lower Yangtze River, Nanjing has always been one of the most important cities in China. It was the capital of China during several historical periods and is listed as one of the four Ancient capital cities in China. Despite some brutal invasions and aggressive reforms, the city has kept her beautiful landscape qualities: curving rivers, sensuous lakes, peaking mountain hills, thick insulations of tree-lined boulevards, as well as the gentle mannerisms of the locals. 

With a rigid meeting schedule during a recent trip, I could not stay away from my team; however, I needed a breath of inspiration to refuel my fluorescent-light-sensitized brain cells. Stepping out of the air-conditioned hotel, I jumped into a cab. With the heat index reaching an all time high of 107 degrees, the taxi air conditioning was not doing much, but my anticipation to reach the Confucius Temple neighborhood quickly meditated my over-heated body.

There are a few well-known tourist sites in Nanjing, but I decided on the Confucius Temple due to my limited time, and the site is a socially popular area visited by not only visitors but also locals, as it is near to the center of Nanjing.

First, multiple souvenir shops greeted me, insuring my arrival at a popular place. Strolling through its entertainment stretch was kitsch, but one can definitely sense the local flare. Along the pedestrian passages, one can observe segments of many canals and appreciate the boats and hints of regional domestic architectural styles rich in ceramic tile roofs, pronounced pitched rooflines, and white stucco walls with characteristic screen details. The crossing of the canal bridge is a great connector to the temple entrance and commercial venues nearby. At the bridge, I took a moment to appreciate the small parts of local canal ways and landscapes.

Although definitely a touristy place, I was inspired by going beyond the retail venues in order to appreciate the regional architectural details in Nanjing.