My sisters, in St George sing with the Southern Utah Heritage Choir, they invited me to go with them on their China tour. What fun! We even got to room together. The trip started out in Shanghai, then on to Xi'an and we finished in Beijing.
The first day we arrived in the afternoon. We visited the Huangpu River front, had dinner and took a walking tour to Nanjing Road from Peoples Square. (this is a very popular shopping area, departments stores as well as small shops) All this area including the river is called the "Bund."Saturday, October 17th
At our hotel in Shanghai, this will be the only Panda we will see.SHANGHAI MINHAND GRAND THEATER
While the choir practiced during the day, the non-singers got to visit the Shanghai Museum, go to lunch and visit the French Concession(popular hangout with lots of eating places and shops, more European looking).THE MUSEUM
Just one of the many beautiful pieces in the museum, furniture, Calligraphy, art pieces, porcelain, Jade and other fine stones from centuries ago.SHANGHAI CONCERT HALL
Sunday, October 18th
The choir having a photo shoot before their live radio performance in the Concert Hall
The non-singers visited the Jade Buda Temple while the choir practiced at the concert hall. 
On our way to the airport to fly to Xi'an, we spotted a traveler having difficulties. Bikes like this with heavy loads were very common. Traffic flowed most anywhere it wanted. FAMOUS DUMPLING DINNER
Monday evening, October 19th
Don't ask what you are eating, note everything was shaped as it's contents, what do you suppose these dumplings were with those beady eyes?
BELL TOWER/ANCIENT CITY
A short walk inside the ancient city, beautiful gardens, bell tower etc.
TERRA COTTA WARRIORS
Tuesday, October 20th
Hundreds of these life size clay soldiers and horses were unearthed, buried by an Emperor who wanted to take his army with him to the after life.
THE NOODLE FACTORY
Tuesday, October 20th
Chef demonstrating making the noodles by hand. We had lunch here.
THE GREAT MOSQUE
Tuesday, October 20th
A Chinese mosque, still very active with it's Muslim followers. The choir performed at a Christian Church. We were very lucky to have this opportunity. We were not allowed to discuss religion with anyone and we could not take pictures!
HOT POT DINNER
Tuesday Evening, October 20th
We cooked our own dinner, then used the remains of the water for our soup.
BEIJING CHINA
TEMPLE OF HEAVEN
Wednesday, October 21st
This used to be the spiritual center of the ancient Chinese Empire
FAMOUS BEIJING DUCK DINNER
Wednesday evening, October 21st
Dead ducks on display, note head and all was roasted
Watching the waiter cutting up the duck, they had a special way to eat the duck. There was a small dish with dipping sauce (similar to soy sauce) and small cut up onions. You take a very thin wrap, dip the duck into the sauce put it and the onions onto the wrap then you fold it up and eat it. Very yummy!
Only a few days before they held a huge festival in honor of the many different cultures that exist in China
THE FORBIDDEN CITY
Thursday, October 22nd
We walked for miles, but well worth it. This is the palace (a city within) from which the entire Chinese empire was ruled for centuries.
RICKSHAW RIDE
Thursday, October 22nd
While the choir practiced at the Forbidden City Concert Hall the non-singers got to go on a ride to a small village where we were invited to go inside one of the homes.
That evening we watched the choir perform.....by the way they were awesome at all their concerts!
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
Friday, October 23rd
Very humbling experience, Jean and Gloria climbed a good distance. We wouldn't let Jean climb too high because of her health and Gloria didn't think it wise to go too far as she had already fainted at the second concert and the fourth concert she felt a little weak (we think because of dehydration). So I ventured off by myself, I tried to reach the very top only to miss the last gate as I had to turn around to get to the bus on time. I didn't want to be left behind!
I was half way to the top when this picture was taken......pretty awesome! The stairs were tricky, they were never the same size, sometimes very small, sometimes very large!
Autumn time at the Great Wall
OLYMPIC VENUES
Friday, October 23rd
The tour guide let us drive by the Olympic site before we did our last shopping at the Hongqiao Pear Market. See the Birds Nest and Olympic Flame.
RED THEATER
Friday Night October 23rd
We skipped dinner to go to this performance. It was the story of Kung Fu. It was amazing! Our tour guide Long, said it was about Marsha Watts.......we asked who? He said, "You know, Marsha Watts"....Oh! We said, "You mean Martial Arts!" Yes Yes.
SOME CHOIR PEOPLE ARE STILL BARTERING EVEN AS WE ARE LEAVING THE HOTEL FOR THE AIRPORT AND HOME
Saturday, October 24th
WE MADE IT HOME !
Saturday, October 24th 
WE ARRIVED HOME 5 HOURS BEFORE THE TIME WE LEFT KOREA.......GO FIGURE!
4 comments:
WOW Mom! Looks like you had such a great time. I have never had a desire to go to Asia until reading your blog. It sounds like everyone there was welcoming and nice. I am glad that you had that opportunity. Especially with your two sisters. Love ya mom.
donna i was so happy to see the pictures. its beautiful there. im glad you got to go. i think it proved to everyone that you can do anything. im so happy you got to go.
Let me just repeat what everyone has already said, but I am soooo glad you were able to go experience China. I am so jealous and can't wait until I go there...someday.
Can't wait to hear the stories behind the pictures in more detail.
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