Xi'an City Wall

In ancient China cities were walled for protection. Today in Xi'an the city wall is reconstructed and you can rent bicycles to ride around the length of the the wall. Of couse, April and I choose the tandem bike! Fun!

Palm Reading and Luck

In this picture Gabby is getting her palm read. I liked this guy, he said I would have good luck because of my good looks! :o) The Chinese are really into luck. Good thing Fanny (a student from Henan University) was there to translate for us! April wasn't a fan of what he had to say...he told her she has big ears, but no one is perfect. Very memorable and funny.

Workout Parks

Here is an example of what I call a "Workout Park". These parks were scattered all throughout China, this particular one is in Beijing. It was purely amazing to see 40-50 year old women doing hundreds of chin-ups and swinging around on bars like they were 20 year-old olympic gymnasts. It was so nice to see such a large amount of people value physical wellness. Come on America, step your game up! Lets get one of these outside "gyms" on Akron's campus!

Soft Sleeper

Here I am in my first "soft sleeper" experience on a night train from Shanghei to Kaifeng. It was so exciting and this is definitely the moment that bonded us, when, shortly after this picture was taken, there were about nine or ten of us all crammed in this 6' x 8' cabin.

Pictures with Westerners

When I came back to America I was confused as to why no one was stopping me on the streets to take pictures with/of me.

But seriously, everywhere we traveled people would stop you to take a picture of the "foreigners". They are infatuated with Western culture.

As you can see in this picture, a family stopped us to take a picture with their Grandmother.

Gardens of Old Shanghai City

The gardens in Old Shanghai City were so nice and relaxing. It was our first day out and about in China and sitting by the waterfalls and taking it all in was an amazing start to our journey. I couldn't believe I was really half way around the world.

(This was also the day that it took April and I an hour to try and order lunch.)

Train Station

Here we are getting prepared to conquer another train station, everytime we

Train Stations

Getting ready to conquer another train station in Xi'an. Everytime we made it through one it was almost as exciting as making it to the top of the Great Wall. There are so many people, and so much chaos, but it was always exciting to board the train and head off to out next place of adventure.

Chinese Food

I could go on for days about all of the delicious things we ate while on our three week adventure. We were served full course meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and it was rare to come across the same thing twice. All of the produce was so fresh and delicious. As you can see in this picture the chopsticks were a bit of a challege, especially when it came to slippery items, such as noodles and tofu, or "dofu" in China. Of course pork is the most popluar meat in China, but we were also served many dishes that included fish and chicken as well. We all loved the broccoli with garlic sauce, it would be gone as soon as it hit the "lazy susan". That is how mostly all of our meals were presented to us, on a large spinning disc that usually the highest authority in the table was incharge of turning. It was great, I miss the food so much!

Parasols

After a long day of exploring in downtown Shanghai, one of our group members, Shannon, followed the Chinese trend of carrying a parasol to protect their skin from the sun and keep cool.

The Yellow River

After crossing The Yellow River (Huang He River) we decided to represent The University of Akron by writing AKRON in the sand.

It is said that after climbing The Great Wall, crossing the Yellow River, and climbing the Iron Pagoda, you are a real Chinese man....so I guess I am a Chinese Man? :o)

The Great Wall

After conquring the unrestored, less touristed section of The Great Wall of China (Simatai)! In this picture I am thinking, "Wow, I can't believe I just did that, and I cannot believe I am about to take a zipline from the top of this mountain, to the river below."

I would totally do this again, it was a very rewarding experience!

Me and these girls are bonded for life after an experience like this.

(Pictured: Katie, Me, Apil and Sam)

Great Wall

The highlight and the main event of the day was climbing the Great Wall at the un-restored section of the wall, Simatai. The trip up to the Wall was just as tiring as some of the sections of the Wall itself. Of course once we all got up there, there was a sign that said no climbing, which was to everyone’s amusement. There were steep inclines and downgrades between the thirty towers we traveled through. On portions there was only broken rocks with no official steps or there would be portions where I had

little traction. Some of the towers we could not go into because of a huge vertical drop off on the other side. Even though the trip took five hours, every minute of the hike was worth it! The scenery and the view were amazing as mountain peaks and hills spread out around the Wall. It is unbelievable to think about how many men slaved over the construction of the Wall and how many fought behind it to protect China during battles such as those against the Manchu and the Mongols. The towers often lit fires to send a signal to other soldiers guarding the Wall. Early ideas and construction of the Wall began back in the fifth century BC and 221 BC, but the modern Wall that is thought of today started being built in the 1440’s in the Ming dynasty. It is one thing to see the Wall from a distance and to be in awe of it, and then another to actually climb it and be part of its history. I have never truly seen anything like it nor can anything ever compare; it is understandable why it is one of the marvels of the world. From the points on top of the Wall, I almost felt like I was on top of the world myself. Words really cannot describe what I felt, how I feel, or what the Wall looks like. I cannot even fully tell family and friends about its magnificence because nothing I say could possibly do it justice nor can pictures tell the whole story.

Tiananmen Square

This morning we went to Tiananmen Square where there were different nationalities present. The area was built in 1651 and then enlarged in 1958, I believe. Of course this is also the site of the infamous protests of June 4, 1989 where students opposed communist ruling and control; many deaths occurred from this incident. A tall, thick obelisk, built from 1952 to 1958, stands in the center of everything as tribute to the People’s Republic of China. Also in Tiananmen Square, there were at least five cameras on each lamp post to survey the area. There were also two statues that displayed the peasant’s during the Cultural Revolution. Museums on China's history were also in the plaza. From here several gateways led into the Forbidden City; most of the buildings inside the city seemed to be originally built during the 1420’s and then rebuilt at a later date. It served as an imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Emperors often stayed to host banquets in the buildings or used them as a closet. At one location a story was told about an emperor who hid a box with the name of his successor to the position, and it was not to be found until the death of the current man.

Summer Palace

As a group we went to the Summer Palace, also called Clear Ripples, that was built in 1750. However, it was destroyed by the Anglo-French and rebuilt in 1888. Seventy-five percent of the property is covered by water. The palace had a pagoda, a walkway called the long corridor, and also a giant marble boat. Above the main area there were paths and staircases that led up a hill with grassy areas and more pavilions. Kim, Roy, Maria, and I found a spot to sit, talk, and relax for some time while playing the question game; simply someone asks a question to the group and others have the choice to answer it or not. The time on the hill was enjoyable for two reasons; first, it was away from all the people and commotion and second because we escaped a Chinese boy, Michael, who had been following us for a long time trying to talk to us in English and tell us about the history of the palace. Michael Jackson’s brother, as he once referred to himself, was eager to be around us, but we were annoyed by his presence.

Hot Springs

After the museum, we went to a hot springs at the foot of Mountain Lishan. I believe the pavilion with the springs was given to an emperor’s concubine, Yang Guifei, in the Tang dynasty. Later in history,1936, this spot played a role in uniting the communists and the nationalists in China against Japan; this was called the Xi’an Incident. At this place, it was rumored that if a couple kissed here, he has to build his partner a pavilion. There were several water baths, basically huge bathtubs, that were large enough to take up half a football field. I must admit to being a bit disappointed in the hot springs because I imagined that it was going to be natural occurring waterfalls in a forest with warm water. In the end, the springs were still beautiful and peaceful to observe. Again, I noticed in particular here the Chinese’s attention to detail such as when a pole, designed to support a tree, resembled a tree itself.

Terra-cotta Soldiers

At the museum, estimates say there are 8,000 Terra-cotta soldiers. I believe about 600,000 peasants were used to build these during Qin Shihuangi’s reign as first emperor of Qin in 210 BC. Excavating began in 1974 after the army was discovered when a water well was being dug in the farmland. Wang, one of the founders of the soldiers, is still alive today at eighty some years of age and will personalize a historical book from the gift shop by signing it. According to the museum, the soldiers are referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. There are three digging and restoration pits along with a historical building at the site. Pit one is primarily where all the Terra-cotta men and horses are located, with workers trying to piece together bodies of armor. A lot of soldiers required piecing together because the army’s storage building was partially demolished during wars. The second and third pit, left fairly untouched, have dim lighting because artificial light fades the colored paint that is adorned on some of the statues. Apart from these details, wow! It is one thing to see pictures in history textbooks and be amazed but quite another to see in person. Just the amount of time, materials, peasants, and money required to build the soldiers is tremendous. Plus, the large quantity makes it hard to believe that such a work of art could have ever been hidden; it is surprising that the fact of a site filled with soldiers was not passed down to generations of men.

Xi'an at Night

Following dinner and shopping on our second day in Xi'an, Kim, Roy, Maria, and I went to find a park and a tea shop. The park had activities for every age such as little children's rides, plazas for dancing, tables for playing games, and a roller skating rink. Again, as it was in Shanghai, there was greenery in the big city. The roller rink, provided by the government seemed really fun for youth and college students to participate in. Seeing these city dwellers enjoy themselves really made me realize how happy and content Chinese citizens are; they do not give the impression of being an angry or mean race. Even during traffic whenever horns are honked, it is not as rude and aggressive as American drivers are. Along with this at-ease attitude, Chinese people are very serving. Everyone is very attentive and has a strong work ethic. Seemingly, this style of living is a part of their culture and something natural that they practice. For example, when we found our tea shop, Ten Fu's, the four of us sat down to sample green tea while indulging in tea foods and candy. The young woman waiting on us continued to make pots of loose-leaf tea as long as we drank in and talked. I imagine very few people in America who would act such a way without complaining and getting irritated. While being in China it is easy to become swept up in the excitement of going on various excursions with the city or buying presents, but if I slow down to reflect and observe people, interesting comparisons can be made between the United States and China.

Chinese Massage

Once in Xi'an, at dinner our first night we talked about getting a massage because most of us on the trip had never had a Chinese massage before. This prompted Ma, Gua, and Wendy, out student tour guide, to make arrangements for us to have one. The cost was twenty dollars, a well-worthy price, for an hour and a half massage that covered feet, legs, stomach, back, shoulders, and arms. Chamomile tea and watermelon was served prior to the start. Mostly boys gave us the massage which was an added bonus for the twenty dollars. Based on feeling, I assumed they used the six different strokes as described and taught in basic massage practices. Bags with hot stones and warm towels were also used throughout the ninety minutes.

Millenium Park

We went to Millennium Park while in Kaifeng, which is similar to Disney World in Florida. Everything was built to resemble the Song dynasty, and the famous rainbow bridge in located here. Given the time of day we were there, most of the shops and smaller performances were finished for the day, but we were able to go on the bridges and explore the gardens. We had dinner at the park, equivalent to the grandeur of the Henan University banquet, except with more soup and no baijiu. There was wonderful watermelon and noodle soup at the end of the meal to signal its completion. I did not care for the turtle soup that was presented to us throughout the meal. Following dinner, there was an elaborate production of a story reenacting old China. The show took place over a lake, stage, hills, and buildings with lots of colorful lights, several hundred performers, and an appearance of a female warrior on her horse. It was on a superior scale to anything at Disney World and no Mickey Mouse was there either. With this, it was evident how the Chinese pay attention to detail in everything they do. Everything was so beautifully portrayed and vividly decorated that it was hard to not be impressed by what I saw.

Yellow River

In the middle of the day, we went to the Yellow River, Huang He, and crossed to both sides by little speed boats. The river was shallow at this time of the season with more of a brown hue color than yellow. Apparently for Chinese people, going to the river is a religious and cherished experiences for them. The river was fairly wide and is one of the five longest rivers in the world, I believe. Fisherman and boatmen live along the river with their tents in a simplistic manner. The boat ride was nice because it allowed me to see the countryside on a sunny day, let the wind blow through my hair, and breathe fresh air. Farm land lined the road leading to the river and the sky seemed to large and open when compared to metropolitan cities.

Hutong Life

We visited a hutong, a Chinese neighborhood, which included a Jewish section. One of the streets in the hutong was called Read the Torah Lane due to a women who ventured into China and taught Judaism. About one thousand years ago, a Kaifeng emperor said he would protect and support a Jewish population in his city. This neighborhood was economically poor with one-room houses serving as a kitchen, bedroom, and entertaining room; and there was a communal shower facility. All the residents lived humble, meager lives, quite different from anything seen in the United States. Conversely, even though they were not rich, the people seemed content. The people in the streets seemed surprised, but happy to see us westerners. Seeing this type of living environment allowed me to question living conditions and how to live life. The complaints Americans have about various issues seem silly, insignificant, and ridiculous in comparison to the lives of these Chinese people. Even though it was a sad lifestyle, it was a good representation of old China. These little pockets of people and dirt roads are tucked away before main commercial streets and are scattered with tiny restaurants and food stations.

Evening in Kaifeng

Following the banquet, most of us attended a pub called Sun Dry, I believe, which was the first bar in the city. The entire place was filled with Henan University students, most of them were female English majors. There were a few male students among them who were also English majors, but this is not a common major for boys when compared with math, science, and engineering. They were interested in talking about American hobbies, school, and western traditions. It was very nice to interact with other students to learn their perspectives on life and how our two cultures differ. Students here do not go out in the evenings as much as Americans students do because the school gates close around eleven each evening. Yet, Chinese like to Karaoke and sing songs by Lady Gaga.

Banquet in Kaifeng

While in Kaifeng we went to a banquet with many other workers from Henan University, our host, including the vice president of a department who studied to become a molecular biologist. Dr. Weinstein and Kim Havercamp were the guests of honor. Tonight was when I learned how much the Chinese love to drink their liquor, particularly baijiu. Others said it burned their throat when they drank it, and most of them used green tea as way to get rid of the taste. For food, there were cold dishes served along with hot ones and a plate of full mini crabs; so many dishes were presented that a lot of the food went to waster. By the end, everyone was merry and well fed.

Iron Pagoda in Kaifeng

At another site, the Youguo Temple, the Iron Pagoda had similar decorations around it. there is a misconception behind the tower because even though it is called an Iron Pagoda, it is not actually made from iron; it only resembles the appearance of iron. It was originally built of wood during the Song dynasty, but the current structure made of brick was reconstructed in 1044 after a fire. Most of us climbed the pagoda, thirteen stories tall, while ascending a very narrow and poorly lit staircase. However, I could get great aerial pictures of the surrounding grasslands and buildings. There were openings, or cut-outs, along the way where I could look out to see my progress while climbing the tower and also enter into in case another person was moving the in opposite direction as me.

Buddhist temple in Kaifeng

We went to a Buddhist temple that had a statue of a lady with 1043 arms and eyes because she was the third daughter of a family who gave her hand and eye to save her father's life. The temple had hundreds of little gold statues of gods who slightly resembled Buddha, but each had a different specialty/ power and a different pose to match this. I never knew how involved the religion is because I was under the impression that there was only the one main Buddha figure. Flowers, gazebos, and incenses surrounded each structure to provide a peaceful environment.

Train ride to Kaifeng

After visiting this location we went to a train station at hour in the afternoon for our trip to Kaifeng, which lasted about fourteen hours. The trains were soft sleepers where four of us were in a bunk-bed compartment with our luggage. It was a one of a kind occurrence, but it made me feel claustrophobic because there was very little air circulation. We ate dinner on the train with typical foods such as rice, steamed vegetables with a sauce over it, and scambled eggs mized with different ingredients. We would arrive at our destination around six thirty in the morning on the following day.

Shanghai

We toured the city afterwards by visiting the Bund, Nanjing Road, and Old Shanghai City. The Bund, by the Huangpu River, had an underground tunnel that took us beneath the water. The tunnel was lit with vibrant colors, and while we traveled in a little car the narrator said random words such as fossilized rock and molten magma as we went through; it was very Willy Wonk like.

Chongqing Folk Village

A Qing era gate at the Chongqing Folk Village

The Marble Boat at the Summer Palace

The University of Akron Travel_Study in China Program

Every summer The University of Akron sponsors a Travel/Study to China Trip. we generally visit four cities in China: Shanghai, Kaifeng, Xi'an, and Beijing.

If you are interested in traveling with us one of these years talk to Dr. David Ayers at the Office of International Programs at The University of Akron.