They built a Wall - we came. And sang a little opera too. :-)

Today we rose again to sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures for Beijing - another balmy 50 degree day!  Suppose we should quit saying that, huh?  We might bring ourselves some bad luck and South Dakota weather! :-)  (Yes, we do hear the news from home!)

Off we went, westward and northward out of the city of Beijing toward the mountains and the Great Wall.  Before jumping there however, we made a brief stop to see Chinese jade and how it is turned into beautiful things....many of which are coming home with us. LOL.

But then, a few miles up the road, the Wall came into view.  I'll let the photos do most of the talking, but you should have an idea of what the Wall is all about.

The Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, it winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 21,196 kilometers from east to west of China.

With a history of about 2,700 years,

some of the Great Wall sections are now in ruins or have disappeared. However, the Great Wall of China is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

If you were to measure all the sections ever built, a new reports suggest the Great Wall of China could be a staggering 13,170.7 miles long. The most popular (and arguably the most beautiful) section was erected during the Ming Dynasty, and runs for 5,500.3 miles between Hushan to the Jiayuguan Pass. Even if you only take into consideration the main-line length of the wall (about 2,150 miles) it’s still the record holder!

How tall is the Great Wall of China?  The general answer is that the structure’s height varies considerably, from 15 feet all

the way to 39 feet. At its widest point, the wall is 32-feet-thick.

For the most part, our students made it at least 3/4 of the the way to the top of the mountain in the section of the Wall we visited.  That's about the equivalent of climbing a 120-story building.  Surprise - the wall is not flat!  Not flat indeed.  Here's Dr. Unger - proud as can be....he reached the top!



Following this extraordinary visit on such an extraordinary day, we had lunch and then headed back into town for a visit to one of the Peking Opera Training Schools in Beijing.  Most of the kids are on vacation now for the Chinese New Year, but four adorable kids stayed to show us their work, and to teach us a bit about how we too could become members of the Peking Opera.  Honestly, I doubt we have the skills, but we sure gave it our best Augie try!

 The Men in rehearsal.  Followed by the Women in action!

 Our volunteers for the opportunity to be made up as members of the Peking Opera, here are Grace Feterel and Sam Konzem.   Not bad, huh?

A GORGEOUS Winter day in Beijing!

Let me start today with encouragement to read the first bit of the article to the left.  This is top news - the migration of people beginning the Chinese New Year.  I mentioned yesterday how busy the trains were...now you see it in print!

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, the most populous country in the world and has a population of 21,500,000 people.  Beijing was the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911. It is the political, educational and cultural centre of the country and as such it is rich in historical sites and important government and cultural institutions.

The city is marked by its flatness and arid climate. There are only three hills to be found in the city limits and mountains surround the capital on three sides. Like the configuration of the Forbidden City, Beijing has concentric "ring roads", which are actually rectangular, that go around the metropolis and serve as good reference points as one attempts to move about the city. Beijing was host to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, and will also host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the first only city to host both these events.

This morning, following another sumptuous breakfast at our hotel, the group departed for big day of exploration beginning with Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

Christine and Andrea DeGroot Nesdahl

The centre of the city and most important landmark is Tiananmen Square. This is the world's largest public square and a must see for all visitors from abroad and from elsewhere in China. The square is surrounded by grand buildings including the Great Hall of the People, the Museum of Chinese History, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the Qianmen Gate and the Forbidden City. It is also home to the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall and the Monument to the People's Martyrs and was also the site of the infamous massacre of student activists by the Peoples Liberation Army in 1989.

The most important palace, bar none, is the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was home to the Imperial Court during the Ming and  Qing Dynasties. Unlike many other historical sights, the Forbidden City was relatively untouched during the cultural revolution due to the timely intervention of premier Zhou Enlai, who sent a battalion of his troops to guard the palace from the over-zealous Red Guards.

Unfortunately, your writer’s camera frizzed for a bit during the visit here so I have no great photos to show….I know your students have them, however, and I know they’ll share interior photos with you!

Lunch in Hutong home

We left here for a visit to the Hutongs of Beijing - the original housing units of thousands of Beijingers through the years. People say that the real culture of Beijing lies in the culture of Hutong and Siheyuan (courtyards). How true it is! As such, they give an insight to the old lifestyle of ordinary Beijingers. Hutong is the name given to a narrow lane, alley, or small street between rows of single-storey Siheyuan. When viewed from the air the interlaced lanes resemble a maze or a chessboard with delicate gardens, fine rockeries and ancient ruins which makes them a wonder in the world.

We actually had lunch in one of these private homes - a highlight of our trip for many in the group!  (And a first for us here in Beijing!). We got to the home by way of riding in a rickshaw (two people pulled through the narrow lanes by a bicyclist.  Quite a haul for some of these guys!  After lunch, we visited yet another Hutong and marveled at how an extended family shares this single living environment.

Off next to the Temple of Heaven - an imperial complex of religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest.  We also enjoyed spending time with many 60 + Beijingers who “work out” in their park.  They asked us to join them in hacky-sack, badminton, stretches and all sorts of “healthy” sports!

The last stop of the day before dinner was for a “tea ceremony.”  Here, students had the opportunity to learn about tea varieties, how to prepare (and drink!) it, and, for some, the chance to purchase some authentic Chinese tea to take home.  

This was a BUSY, but incredible day.  Today's weather was unbelievable - just over 50 degrees and sunny.

And now the full moon rises over the hotel…..what will tomorrow bring?

Faster than a speeding.....

Good morning, America!

9 pm. here in China and your Band has had a final experience with the incredible Chinese Bullet Trains!  We began with a late morning for some, while for others, a chance to ride bikes atop the Ancient City Wall of Xi'an.  Pictures will come - your writer chose the "relax option" and stayed back at the hotel with about 18 others who preferred a few moments of sleep and quiet.  :-)  In other words, no photos, because I didn't go!

At 11 am we gathered all of our things into the bus and an accompanying luggage van to head off to the Xi'an Train Station and our 1:30

departure for Beijing.  These train stations are huge (HUGE) and it amazes me every time that we can even find where we're going....and this time, we had to locate the luggage van in an entirely separate area of the station from where we were dropped.  There are very strict rules about what kinds of vehicles can enter the departure area, and luggage vans do not make that list.  Anyway, we all got through the check-in process, security and the crowds and found a spot near our gate where we could circle the wagons (luggage that is) and allow people some 45 minutes to wander prior to boarding the train.   As you can see in the photo, I simply indicated that we could take turns watching luggage while others left and "Poof!" - the entire gang was gone.  I assumed (and later found out) that most headed to McDonalds - right above where I stood with the goods.  :-)   Good things come to those who wait, however, and I got my "fix" too.  Just later than everyone else!

The train today took us a distance of more than 675 miles (roughly Sioux Falls to Denver) in 4 hours and 30 minutes at speeds up to 190 mph.  WOW.  Crazy thing - you just don't "feel" the speed - you don't really even notice the movement.  These trains are sooooo smooth.  They are packed today too, as it's the beginning of the great migration of Chinese people heading "home" for the Chinese New Year. 

There is so much "new" along the way between

All new - and growing!

these cities.  We'd pass cities of 6 million and hardly bat an eye.  But then think about it - NYC and LA could fit into Chongqing.  And Shanghai.  And Beijing.  It appears that the construction business is where you want to be as everywhere along the way were new high-rises for living, new roads, new urban areas, incredible architecture and more.  It's as if China is all brand new!  That said, today took us through the heart of farmland too.  Looked very much like home.  Also have to mention the very blue skies today.  We hear so much about pollution in China, and yes, it's a serious thing.  So it's lovely to be able to see blue skies and to be able to see so very far.  Maybe it's our South Dakota-ness, but that open sky feels good!

The mountains are about 100 miles away...

Tonight, we're safe and sound in Beijing and looking forward to the next few days of incredible sights and our final concert.  

Drum Towers, Bell Towers and a Towering Concert!

While I have WiFi, we'll try to get this up tonight.  Seems our WiFi is just a tad sketchy here, but persistence pays off!

This day is best told in photos as well.  We toured the center of Xian (Bell Tower and Drum Tower) as well had the opportunity to spend some time on Muslim Street - an area of tantalizing food stalls and more people than you can shake a stick at.  After this, we lunched on Hot Pot - seems to be a fave of this bunch (you get all your own "stuff" and boil it in your own pot.  Ask them about it!

Rehearsed for a few hours at the Xi'an Concert Hall in preparation for our evening concert which, by the way, was sold out.  Take that!

Enjoy the photos!

Upper Level of the Drum Tower

It's really easy to make new friends in Xi'an!

Rehearsal afternoon in Xi'an Concert Hall

Even our guides, Sophie and Christine, are enjoying us.  :-)

Xi'An Concert Hall exterior

Area in front of concert hall.

This group of high school students sat with the band for two numbers.  Great recruiting, eh?

And, it's a wrap!  Another concert in our books!

Long days - big rewards

Saying goodbye to the Century Diamond in Chongqing Harbor

Good morning from Xian, China!   I apologize for not posting  yesterday, but it was one l o n g g g g g g day of travel.

We received wake-up calls on the ship at 6 a.m. and were to have our luggage outside our staterooms by 6:30 a.m.  Headed to breakfast, and departed the ship at 8:30 a.m.  Would you believe that during the time we went to breakfast and popped back to our rooms, they had already been cleaned and prepared for the next guests?  Uffda.  Sure doesn’t make you feel very welcome!  :-)

Group in Chongqing

Anyway, it is what it is, so we headed out for a day-long tour of the largest city in the world, Chonqing, China.  34 million people here.  THIRTY FOUR MILLION PEOPLE here. Chongqing is the largest municipality in southwest China. It is a modern port city on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. With an area of 31, 800 square miles (82,400 square kilometers), it shares borders with provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi.

Chongqing Rail Station.  Yup, lots of people live here!

As China’s fourth municipality after Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin, Chongqing has maintained rapid economic development - the building going on here is incredible.  Bridges are especially interesting to see - feats of engineering to be sure!  Known as the 'Mountain City', it has a wavy terrain and encompasses a wealth of water reserves, mineral resources, dense forests, and abundant flora and fauna. The city attracts visitors from home and abroad for its natural wonders and cultural heritage. As a common starting port for the Yangtze River cruise, tourists can go for a downstream tour to the magnificent Three Gorges.  What they don’t always tell you is the Chongqing is referred to as “the furnace of China.”  It gets VERY VERY Hot here in the summer.  Makes Sioux Falls look like San Diego.  Las Vegas can’t even hold a candle to this place.

This gang can make travel fun!

Sadly, there simply isn’t a lot to do in Chongqing, so we visited three shopping areas and a park. Interesting to be sure, but really just time-killers.  The only train that we could book us all on did not leave until 6:04 p.m. so we had time to kill.  Once we boarded the train, it was a five hour ride (Bullet Style) to Xian.  We rolled into our (very comfortable) beds at 12:30 am.

Today was an extremely busy day which followed an extremely busy day yesterday.  So busy in fact, that we gave everyone some time to sleep in this morning and delayed our hotel departure until 10:00 a.m.  What a relief!   That said, off we went to one of the “wonders of the world” - the Terra Cotta Warriors.

Pit Number 1- the original find.

Workers digging a well outside the city of Xi'an, China, in 1974 struck upon a life-size clay soldier poised for battle.The diggers notified Chinese authorities, who dispatched government archaeologists to the site.They found not one, but thousands of clay soldiers, each with unique facial expressions and positioned according to rank. And though largely gray today, patches of paint hint at once brightly colored clothes. Further excavations have revealed swords, arrow tips, and other weapons, many in pristine condition. The soldiers are in trenchlike, underground corridors. In some of the  corridors, clay horses are aligned four abreast; behind them are wooden chariots. The terra-cotta army, as it is known, is part of an elaborate mausoleum created to accompany the first emperor of China into the afterlife, according to archaeologists.

Ying Zheng took the throne in 246 B.C. at the age of 13. By 221 B.C. he had unified a collection of warring kingdoms and took the name of Qin Shi Huang Di—the First Emperor of Qin. During his rule, Qin standardized coins, weights, and measures; interlinked the states with canals and roads; and is credited for building the first version of the Great Wall.

According to writings of court historian Siam Qian during the following Han dynasty, Qin ordered the mausoleum's construction shortly after taking the throne. More than 700,000 laborers worked on the project, which was halted in 209 B.C. amid uprisings a year after Qin's death. To date, four pits have been partially excavated. Three are filled with the terra-cotta soldiers, horse-drawn chariots, and weapons. The fourth pit is empty, a testament to the original unfinished construction. Archaeologists estimate the pits may contain as many as 8,000 figures, but the total may never be known.
We toured the largest pit as well as #2 and #3 in addition to the museum nearby.  Earlier in the day, we stopped by a sort of “Terra Cotta Warrior Support Center” (aka - shopping experience) and students actually enjoyed packing up some “warrior” gifts for home.

Our late afternoon/early evening stop was at the North Square in Xian which is bounded by the Wild Goose Pagoda and, in celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year, literally millions of lights in the trees.  It’s GORGEOUS. With an area of 168,000 sq m (200,926 sq yd), the North Square holds many records: in Asia, it is the biggest Tang-culture plaza, with the biggest musical fountain and the largest-scale sculptures. In the world, it has the most benches, the longest light-belt, and the largest-scale acoustic complex. It consists of the musical waterscape fountain, cultural plaza, gardens, cultural corridor and tourism facilities.  And yes, we got to watch the “largest fountain show in China!"

On a personal note as I write this post....you just haven't lived until you've run through 25 TV programs, all in Chinese, then settle to enjoy an hour of Badminton championships.  Golly, do these folks know how to play Badminton!  :-)

Bell Tower, Xian.

A final day of bliss

Our last full day of cruising began today with an earlier breakfast and departure for the final excursion of the cruise, the Red Pagoda.  The group walked directly from the ship through scores of shops which hug both sides of the walkway to the concrete bridge leading to the island wherein the Pagoda stands. It's a beautiful island to behold and Shibaozhai Red Pagoda is a 12-tier red wooden pagoda, the top of which can be reached by stairs. When the three gorges dam was built, the pagoda became surrounded by the rising waters forming an island. Well planned protection measures have been carried out and the pagoda remains a well know attraction for local and foreign tourists.

The rest of the day was at leisure on our ship and was enjoyed by all.  The Captain's Farewell Dinner included a speech from the Captain (original, yes?) and a song of goodbye from the crew.  But we weren't quite done...our Saxophone Quartet is featured in the Lounge tonight...and we were all there to cheer them on!

Side note:  Dr. Unger tells me that a Chinese family is on board who finally got the "guts" to talk to Dr. Unger.  They wanted his autograph as they were in the audience for the concert by the band in Wuhan last week.  SMALL WORLD?   Amazing!