Beijing Day 2

The reception we have received from the people of China, has been unbelievable. They have been such gracious hosts, and are so excited to see us. From the street vendors yelling "HELLO, 5! 5!...5, yuan!...HELLO! How much? How much?" haha.... to the tour guides, to the workers at the restaurants and hotels...to the people on the street that stare at us along the way as we stare back...(usually both sharing big smiles once we realize we are both staring at each other), they are just warm, sweet people over all. There have been several times when something will happen that will all the sudden bring tens of not hundreds towards us as if we are some sort of celebrities...or we are drawn to hundreds and then somehow end up in the middle of all of them...again...as some sort of new thing from far away. It is all a wonderful experience. The children really tend to be so curious about us. The little girl in the picture above was in a bus next to ours, and she kept pressing against the window of her bus staring at all of us in some sort of amazement. I quickly snapped a picture and it caught her off guard at first, then after a couple of pictures taken...she flashed this mischievous smile at me. People wave at us from other buses all the time. Wanting us to wave back and smile....etc. Again it just wonderful.


Our second day in Beijing started out visiting a JADE FACTORY. Jade is becoming more and more rare as the mines aren't producing as much, and no new jade mines are being discovered.

In China it is a very valuable stone. Women and men both wear jade for good health and good luck. Women will wear their jade jewelry, such as a bracelet ("bangle") or ring on the left arm/hand. They do this because they believe that the minerals that have processed the jade throughout the jade's long life in the ground, is good for them...so they wear it on the same side of the body as the heart. The craftsmen of jade or also become fewer and fewer, as young people leave their rural homes and move into the cities. It is a skill that is traditionally handed down from father to son...etc. It is truly amazing.
We then visited on our rainy, foggy (yes fog not smog for a change) morning...the Ming Tombs.
They are designed with Feng Shui. Which deals with the harmony of a location. It is in a valley that allows mountains to guard it from wind following in and bringing bad energy in and good energy out...there are rivers flowing through the area that allow good things to constantly be brought into it...it was a beautiful place. The whole morning was much more relaxing because there were fewer people around...kept away by the rainy weather. It was nice to not have so many people around for awhile.

My favorite part of the Ming Tombs was the Sacred Way. This is a walk up to the Ming Tombs. There are several statues of various Ming emperors, and then there are rows of animals along the walk. There are two sets of each type of animal...dragon, camel, elephant...etc. The first two sets of the animals are standing...and then the second set of the animal is kneeling...this is to give the effect that as the emperor walked through the animals would see him, and then in the second set, they would be kneeling to him. It was raining pretty hard as we walked through...and there was NO ONE else there but our group. It was simply stunning in the rain, and so peaceful.

"He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a great man."- Mao

We then went to lunch and headed to the Great Wall of China. We went to the Badaling part of the Wall. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Again we were there on a rainy, foggy day.

Beijing Day 1

Wow...things are moving so quickly. I was posting about a day behind, and now one has become two...haha. Climbing the Great Wall of China will do that to you I guess. (More on that next time)
Beijing means "Bei"= North and "Jing"=Capital So NORTHERN CAPITAL

(Nanjing is the SOUTHERN CAPITAL)

So after taking the train to Beijing we arrived and hit the ground running, and didn't see our luggage until two nights later at our hotel...we didn't see our big bags on the train...

First stop was Tiananmen Square. (Which means "Gate of Heavenly Peace")The largest city square in the world. It really is pretty impressive. There were people EVERYWHERE! As you can see from the pictures...there is a lot of space from one spot to the next...so there was a lot of walking here. It was very hot this morning out there on all that concrete and it was hot.

We then went to the Forbidden City, where the last of the Qing Emperors were overthrown in 1911. It is amazing. (I'll use that word often on here)

After this we had another incredible meal for lunch, and then went to the Summer Palace, my favorite place of the day. The cool breezes next to the lake, made it very easy to understand why it was chosen as the place to be during the summer months.

We then made a short stop on the way to dinner at a wonderful little park in Beijing called the "Dragon Pool Park." There were dragons everywhere...and it was very peaceful in the late afternoon.

After another great dinner, we went to see a show somewhat like the Irish "River Dance" called "Kung Fu Legend." It was very exciting. We then crashed and called it a day!!! Time to get ready for the Great Wall the next day!

(Wait until you see THOSE pictures!!!!)

(More of THIS DAY's Pictures are HERE)

Train To Beijing

July 7, Monday
Train from Shanghai to Beijing
(6:41 AM)

The day in Shanghai yesterday(July 6) was really HOT! It was a 15 year HIGH @ 104 degrees!
But we saw so many wonderful things. Breakfast was great.THE BEST BACON I've ever had...unbelievable. I also had an omelet and all kinds of great fruit. Breakfast also included CONGEE...a watery rice. There were various types of relishes that could go in it or sweet fruits...I put pineapple in mine. The breads were very good- I made toast from some kind of golden raisin bread, it was very good. My roommate John and I took a walk after breakfast around the block of our hotel...our very MODERN hotel.

What a difference a block made....going from our modern hotel to the what appeared to be "slums" of Shanghai...but what a great time to be walking around the area- early morning (7:30 AM) was a time of energy- people were out getting the day started...bicycles and scooters everywhere- bicycle bells ringing to get me out of the road- while taking pictures- so they wouldn't hit me...(lots of pictures of course). The girl in the butcher shop, the man brushing his teeth in the street... Shops of all kinds buzzing with energy and life in this city of 20 million people. The Chinese consider Shanghai to be their New York City- but twice the population. The pollution was rough...I had a tightness in the top left of my chest most of the morning. As the day progressed I became a little more use to it. The heat became what was on every one's mind- it was sweltering and of course the pollution didn't help. But even though it as so hot, it was interesting how much cooler it was in the shade...with a breeze constantly blowing...it kept it a bit cooler there.
We had a private coach for the day and it was very well air conditioned.

We spent the first part of the day in "Old Town" Shanghai- the highlight being the Yu Garden and the Old (400 year old) Tea House. (Again many pictures).

We then went to a SILK museum and saw how the silk in Southern China is cultivated- I got one of the silk worm's cocoons..and then bought a shirt, four pillow covers and a small purse for a friend of mine.

We then went to lunch and then shopping along Nanjing Road. I bought another friend a National China Basketball team jersey at the NIKE store. This road is their 5th Avenue.
My roommate John and I didn't do much more shopping there on Nanjing Road, we walked around taking pictures and visiting a mall (for the A/C)...to get out of the 104 degree weather.
While in the mall (8 stories tall), we played a video game at a large UPS/Olympics booth that was located in the center of the main floor of the mall. Our goofy American ways attracted (ok...my being loud and goofy while I played the video game) a bit of a crowd...some 20 to 30 people...cheering as I played the game. It was pretty funny. I won a prize of a small sponge volleyball with the Beijing Olympic symbol on it.
Our group left the shopping and headed to a Confucius temple...it was something else. The trees in front were full of paper "prayers" hanging in them. Others would then come along later after someone would hang one, and burn them...releasing them into the air/heavens. While there I purchased a personal stamp that had my CHINESE ZODIAC sign (The Ram/Sheep) carved on top, and then had my name carved in Chinese on the bottom.

We then went to an area that the French once controlled in Shanghai- the French Quarter. It was very modern and newly renovated. From there we went to dinner. All the meals have been AMAZING! We sit at a large round table of about 8 or 9 people and then there is a large "lazy susan" in the middle. All the dishes are brought out and put on this, and we spin it around and serve ourselves. They serve, bottled water, tea (hot), soft drinks, and beer with meals.

After dinner we caught a train to Beijing. The train station was a CRAZY mess...people shoving and pushing, and crowding around trying to make their train. It was crazy chaos. Then all the sudden some female official showed up (complete in hills and her skirt) and immediately shut down the escalator, and started yelling at people...etc. She had it in control in less than 5 minutes. It was something else.

Once on the train it was VERY nice. We slept in private cabins of four people. Each person had their own bed. I was in a cabin with our Chinese tour guide, and two other Chinese men who were not in our group. It was very nice, because the tour guide was off taking care of things (His name is Snow by the way), and the other two didn't speak English...and I certainly don't speak Mandarin...so it was peaceful and nice. I got nice night of sleep on the train.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES

First Night Shanghai

Hey everyone.

Good flights over all. We had no problems with getting to our flight to Shanghai in Chicago, nor did our luggage. The captain on the plane even announced that the luggage from that plane made it on board and we were ready for take off! ha-ha. So all went well with that. I even had almost an entire row of 6 seats to myself ( I was at one end and one guy at the other end.) So that was very cool. I was able to actually lay down for part of the flight and sleep some. The Ambien did alright. Didn't totally knock me out...but it made the flight much much much easier.
It didn't seem like 14 hours (13 actually we arrived an hour early!!!)

Now...Shanghai.....

Wow what a hot, humid, steamy, smoggy, AMAZING city!!!! It is interesting. I tried to send you pictures here and to upload them to my photobucket site and the internet here wouldn't let me send through my google email...but MICROSOFT OUTLOOK from my school account will let me...WEIRD!
*(It finally let me upload pictures in the emails, and on this blog)Anyway...as you can imagine it is something else here in Shanghai. It is around 3:00AM here. I went to bed around 8ish PM here w/ some jet lag...and now can't sleep so you are getting this! ha-ha.

The meal we had last night was really good. Some sort of green beans, cabbage, lemon glazed fried chicken, and a lot of other stuff....(those were my favorites).

We have a GREAT tour guide. The local guide is very good as well.



Oh...the pollution...
you cannot imagine! Within a few hours of being here I could feel it...and the heat just adds to it. Itchy eyes...heavy lungs...ugh!!!! About what I figured it would be...but nasty stuff. You'll see the haze in the pictures...even at NIGHT. Nasty.

Other than that...I really like it. The people here (even in a larger city like Shanghai) are drawn to the Americans... We were taking a group picture earlier...and of course (as you will see when you see the group picture at some point) I'm in the front acting a fool....all the Chinese run up with their cameras and start snapping pictures of us....ha-ha. Sheeeesh. I'll close. Good stuff so far. I'm tired, but having a good time and it has been a really good start.




(1st picture Me with Shanghai skyline day shot, 2nd picture I took as we walked back from dinner..night skyline of Shanghai, 3rd picture is a street scene from Shanghai, 4th picture would be me on top of our hotel..the observation deck)

Where I'll lay my head

(Click on the pics for more)
Our hotel in Shanghai

It is ROUGH...but someone's gotta do it! Sheeeesh.
We will stay here at the beginning of our trip and at the end.




Our hotel in Beijing...

Hotel in Xian

Hotel in Suzhou

Hotel in Hangzhou

Schedule & Itinerary

(Most places listed here are LINKS to more information about the place)

Jul 04 Leave USA

Jul O5 Arrival Shanghai (D)
Arrival Shanghai, transfer to your hotel.

Jul 06 Shanghai — Train to Beijing (B.L.D)
Today’s sightseeing includes the Bund, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road or Xintiandi
Take evening train for Beijing leave Shanghai 20:00 PM
Overnight on train (soft sleepers/4 pax per cabin)

Jul 07 Beijing (B.L.D)
Arrive in Beijing 07:00 AM, meet and transfer to the hotel.
Today’s tour starts at Tiananmen Square, the landmark of Beijing, as well as a
symbol of the new China. Proceed to the Imperial Palace (Forbidden City), the
largest and most complete complex of ancient architectures. After lunch, enjoy an
afternoon tour of the lavish Summer Palace. This evening, enjoy Legend of
Kungfu Performance

Jul 08 Beijing (B.L.SD)
Today’s Highlights include a visit to the Great Wall, the most ancient and longest
structure ever erected by man. After lunch, visit the Sacred Way & Ming Tomb,
which houses the tombs of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 AD -1644 AD).
This evening, taste Peking Roast Duck Dinner

Jul O9 Beijing-Xian (B.LSD)
Transfer for your morning flight to Xian, the great ancient capital of the glorious
Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. Afternoon: we’ll view the astonishing army of the
life sized terracotta warriors that have been standing guard by the tomb of the
Emperor Qin Shi Huang for over 2,000 years. This evening, you will be treated
with Dumping Dinner & Tang Dynasty Performance



Jul l0 Xi’an-Wuhan (B.L)
This morning tour to Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall & Provincial
Museum
Take evening flight for Wuhan

Arrive at Hubei University
Hubei Class Schedule and Itinerary Part 1

Hubei Class Schedule and Itinerary Part 2

Jul 30 Wuhan-Shanghai- Suzhou (L.D)
Transfer by university to Wuhan airport & take morning flight to Shanghai.
(E-ticket issued by CITS)
Meet at Shanghai airport and drive to Suzhou - “Venice of China”
Tour to Tiger Hill, Humble Administrator’s Garden, Grand Canal and silk factory

Jul 31 Suzhou — Wuzhen - Hangzhou (B.L.SD)
This morning, we drive to Hangzhou, admiringly called “Heaven on Earth” by
travelers. En route, we’ll visit Wuzhen — a famous ancient water town of the region.
Arrival Hangzhou, cruise on the beautiful West Lake. This evening, enjoy local
cuisine

Aug 01 Hangzhou-Shanghai
This morning, tour to Linying Temple and the famous Tea Village in the green valley. After lunch, drive back to Shanghai. Free time on your own.

Aug 02- Shanghai
Depart for home from Pu DOng Airport 4:10pm
Arrive in Chicago 4:50pm
Arrive in Nashville 8:10pm

Up The Yangtze

I went and saw the new documentary Up The Yangtze last night at the Belcourt here in Nashville.
Tonight is the last night it will be there, but I'm sure it will be on DVD soon enough. It is well worth seeing. I enjoyed it very much. It was nice to see it before I leave next week on my trip.

One of the things I'd like you to notice while you watch the movie is the facial expressions of all the people involved. Their faces say much more than even their body language or their words.

Well worth watching.

Gifts for China

One of the things we've been asked to do in our preparation for the trip is to get together something to use as little inexpensive "Thank you" gifts for various people we'll meet while in China. (Things NOT MADE IN CHINA!!!) That was not an easy task.

So I had several copies of pictures I've taken of Nashville made and I plan to give them out in little sets tied together with THANK YOU written in Chinese on them.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OF THEM.

Skin of Our Teeth

Well, at this point in preparing for the trip....there are some interesting concerns!

The travel agent that booked our flights out of Nashville (everyone else is flying out of Memphis except for 3 Nashville people and one Late addition to the trip in Memphis), for some reason booked our flight (on American Airlines) for the 8:30AM flight out of Nashville. That will get us into Chicago O'Hare at 9:55AM. Our flight from Chicago to Shanghai is scheduled to LEAVE at 10:35AM. Um...now I'm not a math genius by any stretch of the imagination...but....uh... that is going to present a problem! ha-ha!

We now have the travel agent trying to get us all booked on the earlier flight of 6:00AM to Chicago.
I'm thinking that won't be too much trouble, and it shouldn't be full...since it is a 6:00AM flight on a holiday (July 4th). We'll see how it goes. I have a plan for whatever happens. If we have to stick with the original flight of 8:30AM then I'm going to pack two larger carry on bags, and just pay the $25 fee American now charges (don't get me started) and just let that be my luggage, with no worries about it NOT arriving in Shanghai with me. (there's no way they can get the checked luggage from the flight to Chicago onto our flight to Shanghai) It will (at best) be a day late...if not LOST somewhere out in airline luggage limbo! ha-ha

If we get the 6:00AM flight, then I plan to take the regular backpack I usually use, and a small backpack as a carry-on.

I have my last "China meeting" this Saturday, June 28th in Memphis. Should have more information at that time.

Meanwhile, China has a few preparations it is busy with too...