That is a big courtyard where it was Kuomintang's general headquarter of  combined service and then after liberation, PLA Nanjing military Region Political department used it as dormitory in early 50s..

Here is my picture sorted out for memory: 

 Looking from the street, the Gate is still looked magnificent. It is the only preserved one while most buildings behind it was dismantled.

 This flowerbed is very impressive in my young memory. I remembered that after I entered  the gate, turned left and then I could find my home.

 This is the old building where we lived, now  is also dismantled. This picture was taken by dormitory manager in 80s last century.

 We three sisters, each was born in 1950 (Me, in the middle), in 1952(The right one) and in 1954(The left one). More than half century passed. Time really flies! 

 Standing at the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, we were still holding on the hope and wishes of life. 

Xuanwu Lake, a famouse park in center of the city. Inside Xuanwu Lake are 5 isles that are suitable for a scenic walk and contain many small tourist attractions such as Lama Temple, small amusement park rides and the "Temple of Xuanwu Lake God."  We used to visit Xuanwu Lake as our home was near it. 

We were very happy back home with mother after visiting our birthplace.  We have experienced a lot and got to know what life was and now we still like to take an optimistic attitude towards future. As long as there is hope, there is life! Let's smile all the days!

Hope you would share my happiness!

They come from the most venerable master Sheng Yen, who was the founder of Dharma Drum Mountain and passed away on 9 Feb, at the age of 80. I select 10 of them, which are both in Chinese and English,  to share with other friends here, as I think what Master Sheng Yen said is definately right and practical in life. I wish you would like and keep them!

1. 忙而不乱，累而不疲
   Be busy but happy, and tired but joyful
2. 应该忙中有序地赶工作，不要紧张兮兮地抢时间
   Work swiftly in an orderly fashion; never compete with time in a nervous flurry.
3. 人生的起起落落，都是成长的经验
   All the ups and downs of life are nourishing experience for our growth.
4. 山不转路转，路不转人转，人不转心转
   If the mountain won't move, build a road around it. If the road won't turn, change your path. If you are unable to even change your path, just transform your mind.
5. 不用牵挂过去，不必担心未来，踏实于现在，就与过去和未来同在
   There's no need to be concerned about the past or the future. Live fully in the present and you are connected with both the past and the future.
6. 智能，不是知识、不是经验、不是思辨，而是超越自我中心的态度
   Wisdom is not knowledge, nor experience, nor dialectical excellence, but a selfless attitude.
7. 担心，是多余的折磨；用心，是安全的动力
   While worry fuels unnecessary torment, carefulness breeds security.
8. 超越死亡三原则：不要寻死，不要怕死，不要等死
   To transcend the suffering of death, keep to the three principles: never seek death, never fear death, and never wait for death to come.
9. 身是菩提树，心如明镜台
   This body is the Buhdi-tree.  The soul is like a mirror bright.
10. 慈悲没有敌人，智慧没有烦恼
    Devote wholehearted effort without calculating who does or gains more.

Enjoy your Dragon Boat Festival!

Every such day in a year, there would be many news, articles, activities and even performance everywhere in China to celebate it or remember it. And so Women's Rights would be mentioned again and again mostly in this day...

We three women who was born in last 60s (the right one), in last 70s (the left one) and in last 50s (me, in the middle) had a dinner in a nice cafeteria. We celebrated this women's festival by eating, chatting and laughing.

The main topic there was of course the women's happiness. They asked me about the answer.....I said it depended on your idea for your life. If you achieved what you wanted, you might feel deep happiness, no matter what you were or where you were....

To me, it seems not the Power, the Wealth, and the Beauty, but the real sense of self-confidence and independence when I become an old lady....

However, 20 years ago when my grandmother was dying, she asked her son in Beijing to buy some incense paper to burn for my late grandfather, who was buried at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.  She said she had a dream, seeing our grandpa was too poor to buy any food, and he had to rob another relative's twisted cruller for his breakfast.... I was shocked by grandma's saying since I knew that she was an old Communist Party member and never accepted such superstition before.

From then on, I started burning of joss sticks, paper money or to say "Hell Notes" for my late father. As the time went by, my deceased relatives such as parents in law, uncles, other in laws were more and more, so that the paper money I burn every year was also more and more. I normally do it in December of Chinese Lunar calender. Every time I finished doing it, I would feel peacefully in mind and felt as if my heart was purified under the bright and cold moonlight.....

At this time we are approching to the Chinese Niu Year, I devoutly wish all the deceased rest in peace! Of course all the souls came from the Wenchuan earthquake are included!

When I got the old village, I found it changed totally. I could not find any impression I got in 1968 to 1970. Of course it is changed totally. I had to ask local people to find some old farmers there

Finally I found Guichen who was one of my best friend then but she could not know me. Even when I told her who I was, she replied:"Yes, I can know your voice, but can never recognize you when we met at a street.."

Guizhen is one year older than me and she bacam a grandma several years ago. We took photos for memory for ever!

Time really flies! I don't want say anything about that cray time during so called "Cultural Revolution". However, youth is so nice and growing up needs hardship. I never regret that I could once be a farmer and lived in the country with the real farmers. That benefits all my life!

I lived in a courtyard house for my childhood for 16 years. That was a traditional Chinese designed house with rooms in each 4 directions and a nice squared courtyard in the middle. It was located in a narrow alley and there were 4 houses on each side of this alley. 

We children of the 8 homes got along and lived joyously, as we could meet each other easily after class. When we came back home from school, we normally threw the bags on bed and shouted to mom or the maid: "We will have a rest and back soon". Then we sisters and brother as well as other children would run out to the playground of the Military district and had a great time there. However, that kind of house was really an old fashion one where we even had no toilet at home but had to go out for 10 minutes to use the public one in the big military courtyard.

After I got married in 1978, I have moved 3 times so far and each time the latter house would be better than the former. I enjoy the advanced facilities of the flat but I still remember the old courtyard house. Why?  From the flat building, I can't meet people as easily as we did in the courtyard house. People are now isolated in a well decorated house but hardly go to visit other's home just for chat. And the young generation currently is often busy with their lessons and has no time to run out for a good time as we did....

I watched the whole course of the Shenzhou VII manned spacecraft landing safely and successfully on the TV this late afternoon. I am so proud of our country and also greatly appreciate the three taikonauts who did so well in the passed three days！

It is just near the 59th National Day and we all people would enjoy this great moment!

I wrote to her at that Saturday morning just after I heard some comments by the news: "We have had a very good time last night. The opening was great and wonderful! All comments came from in and out of China are  "Amazing", "Unbelievable", "Very smart director", etc... I also heard that even British people started to worry about how it would be in London in 2012... haha.. We are all very proud of being a Chinese!

Have you had any chance to watch it? "

My sister wrote: "Everything here has been overshadowed by the fantastic Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Who will disagree with you? The whole show was unbelievable. The design and the imagination; the size and the light; the discipline and the dedication of all involved, are just beyond the comprehension. David and I were even moved to tears. I only watched from 12:50 to 14:00 UK time (the first 1.5 hours) at work and I was hard to find any word to express my excitement.
 
When I went home about 5pm, David was still watching (starting from 12:30) TV with tears in his eyes. You know what he said to me, "I was so deeply moved that I stood up for the Chinese Anthem." I said to him "You are not Chinese and you don't have to stand up." "I couldn't help it." was his answer."

I present the above to share it with you all.  I can never forget that great moment!

I heard steps of the Game there,

Sooner, sooner and sooner,

All hearts beat faster 20 hours later...

How to light the Olympic torch on?

Who will sing the theme song?

Will Beijing-China be well done?

Many Qs there are lining down. 

One world, hundred year's dream,

Thousands hurrah, one rhythm!

Though the above isn't a poem,

Words leaped from my heart bottom!

I kept an eye on how it went ahead for days since I heard of the Ban. I firstly felt sad with the Iraqi athletes who took years for the great Games but then they would lose the treasurable opportunity. Some of them even cried heavily for it, and I seemed as if I could see the tears.

Then I was puzzled with this principle relating politics. It is originally to protect the Olympic Spirit but people's feelings was hurt by it somehow. At least I felt very sorry to the Iraqi people and its athletes who was just recovering from the disaster of the War.. In another word, since the Olympic Games is a game for all countries in the world as well as all the people in the world, why should it miss one country as well as its athletes? So, I think such politics oriented principle would be a dilemma indeed when it is being carried out.

Anyway, like the news paper said, this final agreement is the victory of all! My only wish now is to give the other 5 Iraqi athletes more chances to get back their qualification for attending the Games.

Am I right?