Chris’ Excellent Adventure

Toward the last weeks of September, my tour of China ended in Beijing. My tour group arrived at the train station and headed toward Tianamen Square and the tomb of Mao. Our next stop was visiting the Forbidden City. I was struck with the vastness and grandeur of these public places.

The following day we headed out to the Great Wall, where after passing stalls of eager hawkers, I took the tram to the 14th tower and slowly climbed my way to the 21st tower. I celebrated my achievement by having my photo taken with the Chinese flag! That night my group had our final gathering to enjoy a traditional Peking Duck dinner. I also took a quick visit to see the pandas at the Beijing Zoo before leaving the city center.

My last few days in Beijing, the Reverman family welcomed me to their home, arranged for a professional visit to the International School of Beijing and introduced me to the modern art district, "7-9-8." We also toured the Temple of Heaven and the Beijing Pearl Market. It was the perfect ending to my excellent adventure in China.

One of the most moving tourist exhibits in China was outside of Xian, at the field where the Terra-cotta Warriors were discovered in 1974. No longer a field, but a developed tourist site, visitors come to see the three pits which contain the warriors. Much to my surprise, only one warrior was found intact. All the rest had been broken to pieces about 30 years after they had been made. The last photo in this series is one of myself and the farmer who found the field. It was a great honor to meet him and visit this historical sight.

A month ago I had the thrill of spending two days in Shanghai. A city of contrasts, I was struck by the city's architectural variety of the financial area, on the east side of the Huangpu River, contrasted with the older markets and the Yuyuan Gardens, on the west side of the river. Two days barely scratched the surface, although we did walk The Bund (the city's Wall Street area in the 1920's and 30's), visit the Shanghai Museum and take a night cruise of the port. I found fashion, finance, history and amazing art in this China's most populous city, over 23 million people!

We joined a riverboat at Chongqin, and cruised up the Yangtze River. Giant mountain cliffs, cut through by the broad river, flanked either side of our boat. I fell in love with boats! Boats of all sizes and shapes accompanied us through the Three Gorges area and the locks of the Three Gorges Dam. Everyone got up at midnight to view our ship going through the locks. Thrilling!

     After a 14 hour train ride, my group arrived in Yangshou, a natural paradise in southern China. Over the course of three days, I took a raft trip on the Li River where I saw a real water buffalo, rode bicycles to the Jade Mountain where we explored a cave and took a mud bath. We also had lunch at a local farmer's home, wandered the streets of Yangshou and took a Tai Chi lesson from Master Yang. It is a wonderful place to vacation for Chinese and international tourists.

    My first impression of Hong Kong was made as the taxi brought me over the bridge onto Kowloon island. The brilliant lights of the high-rise buildings sparkled against the midnight sky.

      Over the course of three days I toured Victoria Harbor by ferry, watched a Sunday outdoor music event, and viewed art at the Hong Kong Art Museum. In the evening I walked through the night market where vendors sell everything from original art to electronic toys. 

    Hong Kong is filled with so many colors, sounds and all kinds of people! Besides seeing noted attractions I got a taste of everyday life by riding the metro, walking the streets and sending packages home through the Hong Kong postal service

    On the afternoon of the 27th, my tour group of 9, gathered for the 14 hour overnight train ride from Hong Kong to Guillin. Next stop Yangshou!