Heilongtan Park: On the third day of the expo, the doors were open to the public, and Peep was back at the booth promoting Savan Vegas. That meant I was on my own again for the day. I met the driver after breakfast and he took me to my first stop of the day, Heilongtan Park, better known as Black Dragon Pool. I started out by visiting the Black Dragon Pool, on the edge of which a local was feeding the teeming koi. I then wound my way along the many brick and dirt paths throughout the park, encountering a memorial garden, the Maple Forest, the Dingfeng Pagoda, Azalea Valley, a bonsai tree garden (in which very few trees were on display), and many ponds and pavilions before looping around and entering Longquan Temple.
The Two Temples: The ancient Longquan (Dragon Fountain) Temple is a Taoist temple consisting of several halls, or palaces. In it, I saw the Thunder Lightning Deity Hall, the Hall of the North Pole and the Steles Pavilion, in which ancient stone tablet writings were on display, on the first tier. Heading up the hill to the second tier, I encountered the Yuhuang (Jade Emperor) Palace, which was undergoing extensive restoration during my visit. Finally, on the third tier I saw the Sanquing Palace. After making my way back down through the upper temple, out the bottom and further yet down the hill, I found myself back at the lower temple and Black Dragon Pool, where I had started my day. Next to the pool stands the Black Dragon Palace. Stepping inside, I came upon three rows of buildings separated by two courtyards. In the middle of the second courtyard was a fountain with a black dragon rising from its center. The Palace dates back to the early fifteenth century.
Another Black Dragon Pool: There is a much more famous Black Dragon Pool in Yunnan Province, in the town of Lijian, over seven hours away by car. The name of both parks is derived from the legend of Lu Dongbin, one of eight Chinese immortals, who subdued and imprisoned nine of ten flood dragons terrorizing the local population. He left the youngest, the black dragon, free under the condition it protects the people. The black dragon now lives in the dark waters of the Black Dragon Pool.
Daguan Park: I went from Heilongtan Park directly to Daguan Park, across town on the banks of Dianchi. After purchasing my admission ticket, I entered the park and was immediately struck by the flower displays flanking both sides of the walkway in front of me. As I traveled further into the park, I encounter many more flower displays, until I reached the banks of the lake, where the three story Daguan Pagoda sits, the centerpiece of the park. The lake side facade sports two blue tablets with what is reputed to be the two longest couplets in China.
Walking Daguan: I spent some time strolling through the gardens and even stopped in one of the many pavilions on the grounds to see a display of photographs of Africa taken by Chinese photographers. Just outside Daguan Pagoda is a large rock outcropping with walkways covering its surface, and a small altar nestled within. Making my way through the park, I crossed over part of Dianchi on a bridge, after which I encountered the entrance to the amusement ride part of the park. The rides seem to take up the majority of the park, with one section marked as flower gardens on the map taken over by kiddie rides. My last stop, near the entrance to the park, was in a bonsai tree garden.
Riding Back: It was back to the hotel after I finished my time at Daguan Park. Despite the driver telling us all week that the park was far away, it only took fifteen minutes to return to the hotel, where I arrived before Peep had finished her day at the expo.