Yesterday (9-7-2013) my brother drove me to Xiamen for a visit. It was 9-7, or September 7th, the day when a national economic forum was being opened. That forum was the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China, to be held in Xiamen each September 7th. It was obviously an important event, for vehicles were put on the “odd-even rule" (and fortunately my brother's Volvo has an odd license plate number), and my former student of 30 years ago was in town for the event.

Xiamen and the neighboring towns have seen vast and fast developments in the past two decades. Most roads are paved and wide, and some are lined up with big trees. We visited one of our family friends and her mother, whom I called Aunt Yuhuan. She is fragile, but remembered me well, recalling how Li-qing and me showed up at her door unplanned and unannounced, to her delight, for she had wanted to introduce us to each other. (If you wish to hear Xiamen dialect, click here for a WMV video of less than two minutes.)

I proceeded to meet Li-qing's relatives and took a lot of close-up photos. We had a good family time. By 7, we were on our way to Xiamen's Venice Hotel to meet with my former student, Ms. Ouyang, who is heading the Singapore delegation for the 9-7 forum.

The last few pictures were back again to Shima marketing place and the teaming hot weather. The weather being so hot, when can I visit Fuzhou, my second hometown?

Someting cool are some pictures of my grandkids from the US. They are really adorable.

昨天（2013年9月7日）燕北开车带我去厦门。正好他的沃尔沃汽车车牌是单数的，否则这几天由于第十七届中国国际投资贸易洽谈会开馆，车辆单双号限流，我们还进不了厦门。

厦门及周边这二十年建筑及道路发展飞快。高楼林立，道路既宽又好，有的还有绿茵。我们先去拜访一对老朋友，并由她陪同我们去看她的母亲，我的玉环姨母。玉环姨母身体虚弱，但记性很好。她提起当年（1970年）我和丽卿怎样在没有约定的情况下同时去看望她，成就了一段姻缘。（如果你不在意听我们的闽南话，这里有一段不到两分钟的WMV视频。）

那天的晚饭是跟丽卿的部分在厦亲人一道吃的。我拍了不少照片。近七点我们终于来到威尼斯大酒店与带团来参加洽谈会的欧阳女士会晤。与30年不见的学生见面，并看到她终于事业有成，但依然快活、潇洒、热情，是很大的欣慰。

最后的几张照片又回到我的石码老家和热烘烘的天气。唉，什么时候才能凉快些，让我得以前去我的第二故乡福州呢？

刚刚收到几张清凉的照片。那是在美国的六岁的孙子和二岁的孙女。

Click image to enlarge.  击打图片即可放大

(will switch to part 6 of China Trip in 20 minutes; 二十分钟后自动转到 燕南故国行第六集)