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Hougang By-election later news up date

Hougang SMC

Preparation ongoing for Hougang Holy Holy Christmas Party. See you guys in 2 hours time.
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This year, we have a total of 106 recipients for the Hougang Constituency Education Trust Bursary. This is only made possible with the help of generous donations from residents, merchants and friends of Hougang SMC. From the bottom of the heart, thank you! (4 photos)


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Hougang SMC

[h=5]Albeit a cold and wet night, the rain did not dampen the mood of the residents who are enjoying themselves immensely...[/h]
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Hougang SMC

Albeit a cold and wet night, the rain did not dampen the mood of the residents who are enjoying themselves immensely...

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It started snowing in Hougang SMC as the rendition of "Silent Night" by HGCC took place on stage. MERRY SNOWY CHRISTMAS one and all!


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[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
530562_767676219915656_866172111_n.jpg



1476250_767676213248990_52054841_n.jpg



1462873_767676216582323_1630708266_n.jpg
 
[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
936627_767676306582314_1356750839_n.jpg



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[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
1461073_767676396582305_804617415_n.jpg



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1463659_767676439915634_284506399_n.jpg
 
[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
1488178_767676483248963_455312861_n.jpg



1395226_767676496582295_2117702544_n.jpg



734200_767676519915626_946825562_n.jpg
 
[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
1520701_767676563248955_1242867011_n.jpg



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1507201_767676623248949_1767113251_n.jpg
 
[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
1465395_767676686582276_780707727_n.jpg



1463380_767676743248937_1335258382_n.jpg



1463561_767676729915605_1642708808_n.jpg
 
[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
1524773_767676763248935_292924510_n.jpg



537285_767676806582264_709137387_n.jpg



1470114_767676846582260_1696779331_n.jpg
 
[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
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[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
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[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
1468701_767677009915577_2115008301_n.jpg



551432_767677103248901_1009922373_n.jpg



1463268_767677109915567_1982043677_n.jpg
 
[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
1475939_767677209915557_78782107_n.jpg



993819_767677223248889_915086197_n.jpg



1501771_767677243248887_33380833_n.jpg
 
[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
994692_767677283248883_1433171727_n.jpg



1467225_767677333248878_352124344_n.jpg



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[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
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[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
1460309_767677556582189_1133957881_n.jpg



1521548_767677566582188_1812202225_n.jpg



1395226_767677666582178_1956661786_n.jpg
 
[h=1]23-28.10.2013: Shantou, China Cultural Tour[/h]Updated <abbr title="Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 12:43pm" data-utime="1387082609" class="timestamp">on Saturday</abbr>

With Autumn ebbing and Winter looming in southern China, MPs Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Png Eng Huat and Miss Lee Li Lian led approximately 80 epicurean residents of Bedok Reservoir, Hougang, Kaki Bukit and Punggol East Constituencies as they readied their cameras and appetites for an immersion in the cultural bounties and gastronomic delights of Chaoshan, Guangdong province.

This six-day tour was a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, starting proper on day 2 in Shantou’s Chao Nan and Chao Yang districts –- a heady mixture of imposing fortress cities flanked by regal stone lions, historic temples with majestic deity statues circling a serene terrapin pond. The day ended with a picturesque sunset visit to a district memorial to Chinese folk hero Wen Tian Xiang at Lian Hua Feng.

Day 3 began with a ferry ride that took both tour coach and passengers over to Nan’ao county, which is largely comprised of Nan’ao island, a few km off the coast of Guangdong. A curious freshwater well skirting the seacoast, dating back to the Song dynasty, was a big crowd draw. A visit to Shantou Nan'ao Island National Forest Park saw a seascape festooned with seaweed culturing vats. Burly travellers tried their hands at lifting a heavy training rock, an amusing highlight of a centuries old military training centre. Lots of sun, sand, sea and local marine produce greeted eager palates and wallets as our jolly vacationers headed back to the hotel for a sumptuous dinner spread.

Jieyang on day 4 was an intoxicating blend of temples, fortresses and a modern shopping mall. A timeworn Buddhist temple gilded with ornate carvings, offered an expansive space to explore, culminating in a steep climb to the top which is not for the faint hearted. Cannons ringed a moat-banded coastal fortress at the next stop, the entire structure dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Capping the day was a shopping mall visit, the first real shopping experience for holidaymakers in a modern local mall, followed by a dinner banquet.

Chen Ci Hong’s Mansion in Chenghai district beckoned to visitors on the 5th day of the tour, offering a sprawling estate to explore with little nooks and crannies to sip tea, listen to Teochew Opera, watch a puppet performance and appreciate the architectural fusion. On offer at the various shopping detours were novelties like Buddha’s Hand or Finger Citron fruit, marinated in a medicinal blend including licorice, with purported health benefits. Saddled with bags of fruits, biscuits, and tea, our intrepid travellers soon arrived at the Memorial Temple of Han Yu, which offered a good workout and a breathtaking view to those robust enough to complete the ascent. The icing on the cake for the day was certainly the tram tour of the old city of Chaozhou, stopping for a photo session at Guangji Bridge (a pontoon bridge built in AD 1170 during the Southern Song Dynasty), before proceeding on motorized rickshaws through the grandiose city walls into streets lined with a dizzying array of restaurants, candy shops and snack stalls and old-style dwellings. Sightseers dropped-off outside a beautiful syncretic monastery situated in the heart of the old city, which led out into streets fringed by a smorgasbord of traditional teochew snacks freshly churned out by seasoned candy chefs.

A hearty vegetarian dinner crowned this 6-Day Enchanting Chaoshan Delicacies Tour, as MPs and residents returned to the luxury of their hotel rooms, packing bags full of fond memories ahead of the return trip the next day.

Guess what? Residents were already asking, ‘Where will we be going next year?’

Reported by: Ong Chuan
Photo credit: Jacky Koh Chee Koon
1505139_767677726582172_967024123_n.jpg



988393_767677723248839_712269609_n.jpg



1468777_767677743248837_21567844_n.jpg
 
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