Introduction to China

Ok, where to start? The Peoples' Republic of China seems a good place to start; halfway around the world and far out of our comfort zone. We visited in May of 2002 and traveled from Washington, DC (our home at the time) to Chicago to Tokyo to Beijing. After touring Beijing, we flew to Xi'an, then flew again to Wuhan and then by bus to Yichang to float on the Yangtze River until we arrived in Chongqing. After Chongqing, we traveled by plane to Guilin and we visited Yangshuo by Li River boat. Finally, we ended in Shanghai and included a day trip to Suzhou.

Even in May of 2002, China was touting the fact that the Summer Olympics were going to be in Beijing in six years. This garbage cart near the old city's Bell Tower announces what is a great source of pride for many Chinese.

Even though we are happily posing along with other tourists Chinese and foreign, Tiananmen Square to us was a solemn place and it is hard not to be haunted by the events that took place there in 1989.

I found an awesome, some would call it "Great", Wall on which to sit and contemplate. This is a restored section in Juyonguan relatively near Beijing. I regret not finding a more wild place to climb on the wall.

Outside the town of Xian is the place where a peasant farmer found the burying place for Emperor Qianlong of the Tang Dynasty. He was buried with an army of terracotta soldiers and horses.

Our overstuffed suitcases looked ridiculous tied to the stick-stick man's yoke on his back. The bag on the right was so heavy that it kept making him lean to the right. We had just ended our cruise on the Yangtze River and arrived in the port at Chongqing.

The Chongqing Zoo was dismal with sad-looking animals in cages. The Panda was treated like royalty, however, with a slide and plenty of bamboo shoots. We were allowed wonderful access to young male.

I didn't find too many Chinese men rocking the Playboy gentleman look. One has to question whether this store in Guilin has some issues with trademark violation. Either way, I'm sad I didn't pick up any Hefner-wear to bring back home.

I remember this day as being clear, but this picture taken from a boat on the Li River says otherwise. The river people seemed to live a hardscrabble life in these wooden sampan boats. One wonders if they grew used to the surrounding spectacular scenery of steep karst-stone peaks arranged like irregular dragon's teeth along the river's edge.

The Bund is the riverfront area of Shanghai; it reflects that European influence that was assimilated through trade in "colonial" times.

Suzhou can be reached quickly by rail from Shanghai. It is near the end of the Yangtze and is full of canals and gardens.