The Chinese are masters at landscape artistry and even the highways are lushly planted with tropical looking greenery in full flower. They had plumeria, Japanese maples, crepe myrtles, palm trees, fringe flower and too many more to name. They also embraced the art of topiaries and the Foo Dogs here, or lions as they called them, are particularly entertaining.
We visited the historical property The House of Chen. It was in typical Chinese style with polychromed sculpted scenes on the roof line, tiled roofs, stone courtyards, and much carved wood. Most of the carving seemed to be contemporary interpretations of historical representations. They also showcased modern day artists working in the class arts of ceramic sculpture, bone carving, ivory carving, wood carving and more. The doors had enormous colorful painted warrior type figures, one on each door, and are called “door ghosts”) as they are protectors of all who reside within.
