Bronze Bull

Recognising the bronze bull at the Summer Palace was a poignant moment. I hadn't thought of the sculpture since I patted it for good luck in 1998 on my first visit to Beijing. I had flown from London to meet my parents, who had travelled from Hong Kong.  It was Christmas and so cold that some of the canals were frozen, so we walked through the palace grounds in winter coats. I don't think I bothered to take a picture, so I had forgotten that part of the walk.  Suddenly, on a hot September day, the memory came back. I would have stroked the bull again, but now there is a fence to protect the bronze.