My travel companions....

I guess I'm simply not clever enough to know how to line these photos up nicely, but I hope you'll enjoy some random shots of happy travelers!

It was pure Pandemonium!

This peaceful creature with a distinctive black and white coat is adored by the world and considered a national treasure in China. The panda also has a special significance because it is on the endangered species lists.  There are only about 1600 of them left in the world today.

Pandas live mainly in bamboo forests high in the mountains of western China, where they subsist almost entirely on bamboo. They must eat from 26 to 84 pounds of it every day, a formidable task for which they use their enlarged wrist bones that function as opposable thumbs.

A newborn panda is about the size of a stick of butter—about 1/900th the size of its mother—but can grow to up to 330 pounds as an adult. These bears are excellent tree climbers despite their bulk. 
Today, we saw these little guys at the Beijing Zoo.  They have an ok area to hang out in and are well taken care of, to be sure.  From the looks of it, lots and lots of little pandas were hauled out in bags from the Gift Shop.  But how can you resist?  They are so darn cute!

Tonight, the AU Band celebrated their last concert of the 2019 tour in a GORGEOUS concert hall - a new place for us - at the China National Library.  There is a complex of buildings on the grounds of the library for the arts and this particular hall hosts major national events throughout the year. 

The concert hall was once again full with some 1500 people.  Among them, a number of young musicians who came with their parents and were literally smitten with the music they heard.  The Band received a very warm response and many said the sound in there, “was like butter.”  Yes indeed. 

Take a listen to Jacob Fenner's "Carnival of Venice" performed tonight to an appreciative crowd:

A perfect way to end our concert tour of China.  And now, just a few hours more to enjoy this fascinating place before heading on home.  Brrrrrr.  Are we ready for Sioux Falls?  :-)