It seemed as though it would be easy to get there - get on one bus here and go straight there. But it was not to be. Here we are taking a break in the shade for a snack whilst waiting for the second bus we got onto. It's at these times that Alex decides she needs to go to the toilet - with not a toilet in sight.
We caught several buses to arrive – in the middle of nowhere. Literally the bus terminated in the midst of what appeared to be a currently being constructed industrial area. We got off the bus – there were a couple of street vendors selling food and a multitude of motorbike “taxis”. Hmm, this did not look good. Immediately the kids were set upon and we spent the next ten minutes answering the usual questions before deciding to jump on the next bus (of which there were only two) and hope it took us somewhere with more bus choices. It did so we jumped off to catch the correct bus to get to our destination – having first fobbed off invitations to take a motorbike taxi, or two, there from another lot of motorbike taxis. Indeed, we hadn't seen a car taxi since coming off island. There was a certain time when we were both thinking we might chance the motorbikes but thankfully didn't convey this to each other.
We arrived after just under three hours bus travel – including waiting and mucking around with changing buses and promptly went inside. 
The floats we had seen in the parade were standing in the front section 
and then we went inside the “Forbidden City” 
and, later, onto the "Great Wall". It was a pretty good replica and very interesting.
Sebastien and Alex enjoyed running around the place - Sebastien once again a target for photographers - 
and they enjoyed watching the little show put on by performers. 
They got up on the stage afterwards and danced around to the music blaring through the loudspeakers, and it was very loud!
They had a lovely set-up in one of the buildings where for a fee you could dress up in traditional clothing and be photographed - we didn't do that...this time.
We found a little restaurant and sat down for some lunch - it seems after a year here we can order a decent meal without needing a photo or english menu - and we even managed to get a local delicacy:Tong'an Fengrou or pork belly square. I guess that comes of just asking for a "pork meat" dish. 
As Sebastien had fallen asleep on Mummy's lap, we were in no hurry to move on and into the sun. Alex played with two young boys whose parents were some of the many merchants there.
Eventually we moved on as our table was needed for others. We ventured past the seesaw
and onto the water garden.
Then we passed the archery targets (Mummy was a little concerned to see archery set up against the Great Wall with no real supervision...and had visions of getting skewered by some child or unskilled person).
and checked out the Great Wall.
Then we moved on to the beautiful grounds 
and enjoyed just walking without an aim in mind. We saw some fishermen fishing for waterplant roots on the river.
We took a break in the shaded walkways along with many other visitors, some trying to surreptitiously take Alex and Sebastien's photos.
And just enjoyed the surroundings.
We stopped to buy some more water because it was really hot - and afterwards ventured into several museum rooms. 
Alex really enjoyed this and told us which ones were her favourite amongst them all. One room had a tiny piano - just Alex's size so she told us. Mummy's favourite was the supposed antique desk with assorted writing paraphenalia that had everything sticky-taped down so light-fingered visitors wouldn't make off with choice items.
Daddy's favourite, well one of them, was the Guan yin bodhisattva image - or the Goddess of Mercy with 1000 arms.
It was very telling when we came to the ceramics room and she was gaily tripping around the room pointing out her favourites only to come to a screaming halt in front of a cabinet with broken remains of very old pottery. Her eyes widened and her comment: "Oh no! Look what someone's done! They've broken them Mummy! That's a bad choice isn't it? It wasn't me."
Exhibit A:
We also saw the "Mao" room with very many red books - none in english.
Before we left, we again passed the performance area of the Complex and watched the parts of the performance we'd missed the first time. We found it amusing that audience members vied to be chosen for photo opportunities with "Chairman Mao".
There was dancing 
there was kungfu action, 
and there was another chance to dance on the big stage. The kids were joined each time by other kids who obviously felt if the strange laowai kids were up there doing it then...
It had been a long but enjoyable day. We rounded it off with some bing qi ling - one a traditional green bean flavour which tasted, different.
Getting home was easier than coming to Tong'an as we jumped on a bus that went somewhere on the island and then changed when we knew where we were. Mummy was thankful that it is customary for people with small children to be offered a seat if none are available - as this allowed Sebastien to sleep on a crowded bus.
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