The scenery of Havana is very beautiful. Under the blue sky and white clouds of the Caribbean Sea, the endless blue waves, coupled with the city's tall banyan trees, kapok trees with fiery red flowers, especially the "national tree" king palm, and grassy green areas, green shade under the cover of the ancient buildings, which all constitute a picturesque mood, people think about it, and forget to go back.
Havana is full of rich cultural flavor. The Old City was listed as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1982 and is the pride of the Cuban people. Founded in 1519, Old Havana is still relatively intact with a large number of ancient buildings left over from the colonial era. There is the oldest castle in Latin America, the Castle of Arms, the Church of Christ rebuilt in 1638, and the Havana Cathedral, which is a model of Baroque architecture. The Plaza de Armas, where the foundations of the old town were laid, is located next to the colonial Governor's Palace. The soldiers who guarded the castle used to drill in the square, which gave it the name "Square of Arms". The number of monuments preserved in Old Havana is outstanding in the whole of Latin America. The Cuban government in the case of economic conditions are not generous, but still made great efforts to protect the ancient architecture of Old Havana. It can be seen that many monuments have been or are undergoing renovation.
In one of the squares of the old city, a performance group was performing a street play "Wandering Giants", which turned out to be a fund-raising campaign for the restoration of the old city's ancient buildings. Citizens are making a conscious effort to preserve their city's treasures.
On the other side of the square is a huge book market. There are many people who love books and reading. It seems that there are a lot of people who love books in Havana, which is a reflection of the cultural literacy and educational standards of this nation.
The achievements of the Cuban education program are obvious. Since the triumph of the revolution, the Cuban government has been practicing the policy of free and compulsory education. From elementary school to university all free. This has been maintained even under very difficult economic conditions. The enrolment rate of Cuban school-age children has reached 100 per cent, that of junior high schools 95 per cent, and that of senior high schools 98 per cent, with nearly 85 per cent of senior high school graduates being able to go to university or to specialized colleges and universities to further their studies. According to a study published by UNESCO, the quality of education in Cuba is among the highest in the entire Latin American region. Accompanying us, comrade Ulla of Granma newspaper kept pointing out and introducing along the way: here is the University of Havana, there is a high school ...... A few days down the road, I had the impression that the most buildings in Havana, in addition to schools, are hospitals. Cuba has been practicing universal free medical care for decades. It is still insisting on this system. The Cuban healthcare network extends throughout the country in both urban and rural areas. Even one of the sugar cane production cooperatives we visited has its own medical clinic. The members of the cooperative receive treatment free of charge. The standard of medical care in Cuba is also quite high. The Almeheiras Hospital, which stands next to Havana's waterfront boulevard, has medical equipment and medical standards that have reached the world's advanced level and can perform a variety of difficult surgeries such as heart, kidney and brain cell transplants.
The Cuban government also attaches great importance to scientific research. The Biologics Research Center in Havana was established in 1986 under the personal interest of President Castro, and today has achieved many of the world's leading scientific research results and has become a world-class scientific research institution.
Cuba also has a high level of sports and culture. In the few days we spent in Havana, there were two major international tournaments, one for fencing and the other for baseball. And Cuba in these programs have not bad performance. Havana's tropical song and dance performances are also world-renowned. Latin dances and music with national characteristics bring guests a satisfying enjoyment.
Havana's many museums are also a big part of the city's cultural scene. The Asian Museum, located on a side street in the Old City, displays a number of art treasures from China, Korea, Japan and other Asian countries. The most important museum in Havana is probably the Ernest Hemingway Museum. The museum is located in the American writer, Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway's life and lived in the Vicia Manor. The museum maintains the original appearance of the former home and looks as if the writer still lives there and is only temporarily away.
Cuba is a small country, only 200 kilometers away from the U.S. Over the past 40 years, Cuba has persevered under the U.S. embargo, overcame difficulties, and insisted on taking the road of socialism. This spirit is indeed invaluable. As a result of the United States embargo, Cuba is still facing economic difficulties. It is true that the Cuban people are not yet materially rich, but I feel that the Cuban people are spiritually rich.