Fake Plastic Trees
Trees in Shenyang were very hard to find, so the fake plastic replacements were not uncommon. Although Dalian had the most trees and greenage of any Chinese city I saw, its citizens could evidently not resist the incredible temptation of bruising the eyes with fake plastic trees. Radiohead anyone? In another adventure in gaudiness, one train station decorated them with flashing lights.
The man made waterfall in Dalian is exactly as inspiring as you might expect. If only the citizens and industry did not pollute so much, these types of things would be unnecessary. Most Chinese see no problem with littering, and the concept of "reduce-reuse-recycle" hasn't arrived yet. So if you're at the zoo or botanical garden and a college professor or grounds keeper tosses his empty soda can into the reflecting pool or into the animal cages, relax comrade... someone can always build another photo-op.
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