China Farewell – November 9, 2017

Hello Everyone…

Our phenomenal trip has concluded and we arrived home safely late last night. We wanted to send our final note highlighting our segment in Beijing.

Beijing has served as the capital of five dynasties over a period of 800 years. It is likely the busiest feeling city as a whole that we visited. Busy traffic and people so in this instance, we were glad to be a part of a tour solely for the opportunity to see what it had to offer while avoiding line ups and crowds. It was the chilliest temperatures of our journey so a coat was a definite must.

One of the most obvious highlights was our visit to the Great Wall. Built as early back as the 7th century, the wall extends for over 7,000 km’s where the majority of it was built from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). A huge architectural feat to say the least.

There were 12 look out points (mini fortresses) that as participants, we could climb to any level that felt comfortable. D and I made it to the top!! Interestingly, we had preconceived notions that the top of the wall would be leveled smooth but in fact, the component we were on was all stairs so I can say that it is a notable workout on the legs, but worth the climb for the accomplishment of simply doing so. Chinese culture states that you’re not a true hero unless you make it to the 12th level so it was either do the climb or buy the certificate 😉

We also visited one of the largest Jade exhibitions in China. In China, Jade is considered the most valuable commodity, perhaps how we consider gold or diamonds. And, like diamonds, you can determine the authenticity of Jade by scratching glass. We all presume that Jade is green where in reality, different variations including black, red, blue, lavender, white and of course, green may be present. It is similarly interesting that, for the Chinese, buying a bracelet is considered an investment and also signifies a level of social status based on how much one may own.

We continued our experience by seeing one of the most spectacular shows ever called, The Golden Mask Dynasty. A musical drama which tells a mythical, fairy-tale like story of war, royal banquets and romance. A vast array of performers features Chinese dances, acrobatics, overly colourful costumes and live peacocks! We will say that one thing the Chinese do well is their stage productions. In one scene, representing heavy rains in a village, we were startled to witness thousands of gallons of water pouring down the stage like a flooding tsunami. It was breathtaking to witness and experientially, was so powerful that it pulled you into the production. Pictures weren’t really permitted and the show was so enthralling that we didn’t want to divert our attention so I found a couple of pics online to demonstrate the impact of the production.

Our next day we visited the Temple of Heaven. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would be welcomed there for ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvests. Only the Emperors would be allowed to broach the temple. We followed this by a rickshaw ride through Hutong (referring to neighbourhoods) which are narrow streets or alleys most notably in Beijing. We dined for lunch at a family home which gave a glimpse into the old way of life and traditional Beijing culture.

Our final day brought us to the Chinese Herbal Institute where we learned about traditional Chinese medicine. A treat of a foot bath and rub was also offered and graciously accepted. This was very interesting as they had doctors come in following the presentation and if you chose to, they would offer a diagnosis…we accepted. It was impressive that for the both of us, by feeling our pulse and sticking out our tongues they were able to instantly diagnose past and current medical situations. So yes, we bought some Chinese medicine 😉

After lunch we visited Tiananmen Square, the second largest public square in the world. Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) contains the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong (1893-1976) a founding father to the People’s Republic of China. It, as many of us know, was also the sad site of the Tiananmen Square Protests where hundreds of Democratic protesters were killed due to the instilling of martial law. This is commonly known in China as the “June 4th Incident.”

We then ventured on to the Forbidden City, the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming to Qing dynasties. We toured the summer palace, the largest and former summer resort for the Emperors.

With tired feet and a broader mind, we took our 13 hour flight home. We will take the next few days to adjust from the 12-hour time difference and re-enter reality with an appreciation for how as a world, our knowledge is as vast or limited as we choose to make it. So much privilege is felt for the opportunity and experience and we thank you for allowing us to share it with you all.

Love to all…