by Suelin Low Chew Tung
If ever there was a place in China that reminds me of Grenada, it was Hunan Province in central China.
For a week at the end of March, the journalists of China-Caribbean and China-Africa Media Centres toured 3 cities in Hunan Province: Yueyang, Changsha and Chenzhou.
Our first stop was Yueyang, a modern industrial city with over 2,500 years of history, a place of strong revolution traditions and “the land of fish and rice on the Dongting Lake.” We visited several places, but for me, the highlights were Hualong Wharf, East Donting Lake National Nature Reserve, and Liuzhamen, an eco-friendly fishing village.
Hualong Wharf, built in the area in 2002, was known for sand and gravel mining until 2017, when conservation of the area brought that to a halt. Almost 40 illegal wharves were dismantled and over 33,000 square metres of eco-environmental restoration was implemented, providing a stable habitat and attracting wildlife. The sand and gravel mining struck a nerve. Over 20 years ago, I saw what illegal sand mining was doing to the historic Tibeau cemetery in Carriacou. and complained to the relevant ministry, to no avail, about graves being undermined and washed into the sea. I wonder if Tibeau cemetery and similar areas subject to illegal sand mining are covered under our National Parks and Protected Areas Act?
At the East Donting Nature Reserve, images of Grand Etang National Park and Forest Reserve flashed across my mind, as the lake is the largest body of water in Grenada. The East Donting Nature Reserve founded in 1982, covers the eastern section of Dongting Lake — the second largest freshwater lake in China — surrounding farmland, fishing ponds and lakes. It was designated a Ramsar wetland in 1992 and a protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2015.
But at Liumenzha Ecological Fishing Village, Gouyave, the main town of the parish of St John, was on my mind. My first time in Gouyave, a seine was being hauled in, and I was fascinated by people joining in and receiving fish fresh off the boat for their assistance. There I was, over 15,000 km away, standing on the side of the road in Liumenzha, watching fish dry in the sun, and wondering if something similar could happen at home. The thriving 30-year-old industry annually attracts nearly 100,000 visitors to the village for tours and sale of various fish products from any of 40 businesses. Liumenzha’s air-dried fish even received national geographical indication (GI) for products in 2020, a recognition that our farmers and agro-processors could benefit from.
Changsha is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), and we toured industrial parks of heavy industry, construction, cultural and creative businesses that use innovative and homegrown smart technology. A too-brief stop at the Museum of Changsha Tongguan Kiln Porcelains was a welcome step into the history of ceramics. Outside the museum, there was a winding path of crazy paving created with dishware. Inside, however, there were exhibits of broken pottery that may provide inspiration for similar installations at the Grenada National Museum, using discarded historic roof tile and decommissioned Amerindian artefacts.
The highlight of the last city, Chenzhou, was taking a whisper-quiet cable car across valleys of a primaeval forest of Mangshan Mountain National Nature Reserve with its 1,000-year-old trees, then climbing to the Five Fingers Peak in the mist, and on to the restaurant at the top, where the Yao ethnic group greeted us, and whose spirited performances warmed us as much as the traditional hot tea and snacks. I have not yet been brave enough to ascend Mt St Catherine or any of Grenada’s high peaks due to my fear of heights. However, climbing Mangshan Mountain in the mist with almost zero visibility was a personal achievement.
The trail was clearly defined, with wheelchair access, securely railed, with bench rest stops placed for the best views. At the steepest part of the climb, an almost vertical ascent, suddenly, there was a glass lift, next to a flight of steps, next to an escalator. An escalator, on the mountain. The walk down was easier, helped by another glass lift on the other side of the mountain. At the end of that dramatic climb, most of us appreciated a 30-minute soak in the hot springs offered at the hotel. As I soaked my tired feet, I envisioned a similar cable car up from one parish and across Grand Etang National Park and Forest Reserve, and down into another parish towards sulphur or hot springs.
Gaoyiling Scenic Area hosts the local version of Stonehenge, hewn from area quarries, which complemented the vista of black hills, yawning gorges, and a nerve-jangling bridge that was the only way to get to our coaches. A scenic area built around the cluster of large volcanic boulders at the corner leading into Black Forest just before Grand Etang proper, popped into my mind. Wishful thinking.
There was a lot more to see and experience over the six days. In Hunan Province, with its warm people, green mountains, lush forests and sunshine, home was never far away.
Suelin is visiting Beijing, hosted by China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC), to report on China with a Grenadian view.
The disrespectful nature of all the above comments are shameful, they do NOT represent the views of all grenadians. Why are we so angry at Chinese people practicing their cultural traditions in their own country. Our centuries old relationship with europeans have left us brutalised, exploited and mostly poor with threats and blackmail, while recent relations between the developing world and china has resulted in the development of infrastructure and maintenence of their sovereignty and non-interference in their affairs.
The Chinese government and citizens cannot undertake any project in Grenada without the permission of our government, so direct your anger and protests to your government.
And no, we have not been fine and we will not be fine in the future unless we work to develop our island and provide opportunities for our people. We need to look around the world and see where development and fair terms of trade is coming from, it is not coming from the United States or Europe.
Generally we need to practice basic politeness and treat people and their customs with respect.
It’s time to kick the Chinese out. Grenadian leaders are weak and easily bought.
Go live in China Sue. You approve of evert they do including destroying Grenada. You don’t appreciate Grenada for what it offers NATURALLY. You LOVE everything Chinese we all recommend you would be happier there. Very tired of your poor journalism and support of Chinese propaganda. Shame on you.
Interesting how much they care about protecting their natural and cultural practices, even celebrating their own Ramsar wetland. Meanwhile, in Grenada, they trample over ours. A Chinese state-owned company is destroying Levera, our Ramsar-designated wetland. Go figure.
Exactly. They have no respect for Grenadian heritage or anybody elses for that matter. How much longer do we have to put up with this drivel. It is insulting. I hope this is the last article.
Leave Grenada out of your Chinese propaganda.
Why are we being subjected to this insidious nonsense? We will no be bamboozled. We were fine before and we will be better off after you’ve gone back to whence you came. Not your land. Never will be.