Doors

I'm not sure what it is about doors that are so intriguing to me. I suppose its the fact that there is something behind them, something often left to my imagination. A window to the soul of a family, perhaps? I took this group of door pictures while we were in Yangshuo a couple of weeks ago, many of them on the hike we took through the karsts, ending in the small, ancient town of Xingping. Some of them are doors we encountered on the occasional farm houses that were tucked away in the wilderness, others were in Xingping itself.
I am always amazed at how Mao is still revered here in China, despite his sordid record as a leader of the country. His portrait is prominently displayed inside this home in Xingping. Bonus when a door is open and I can actually peek inside!



Notice all the red couplets on and above the doors. These are traditional Chinese New Year decorations, wishing good luck, happiness, health and prosperity to the occupants. I think think these decorations stay up throughout the year, weathering as the year progresses, until they are replaced with fresh ones for the following lunar new year celebration. Even the stable below is decorated!

This is the front door of The Giggling Tree, the guesthouse where we stayed outside of Yangshuo. See Gwen standing in front of it?! This door opened into a courtyard where meals are served from the guesthouse kitchen in good weather. Our family and Justin and Mary enjoyed several lovely evenings around a table in the courtyard behind these doors!

We all loved the site of this pup peeking out of the opening in the wall beside this door we spotted on our bike ride. We saw these same openings next to many farmhouse doors... anyone have an idea what they're for, besides a lookout for dogs?