CHINA TRIP - April 8-19, 2009
Laura, my sister, has a daughter Alison who is living in Shanghai, China, with her family. After Laura visited there the first time, she came up with the idea of a "family China tour." Well, Laura doesn't just make things happen halfway, she goes all the way!! She planned for a year by researching tourists spots in China and consulting Alison, making telephone calls to travel agencies (ended up using LDS Travel) and checking family schedules. She invited everyone in her immediate family and extended family. Twenty-four of us signed up (two, a mother and her daughter, were Angie's friends and not members of the family, but we loved having them along!) and we spent the next 11 days together exploring Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. Not only did we spend a fun trip with family members, but the tour far exceeded our expectations!!! It truely was the "trip of a lifetime." Thank you, Laura, for all of your planning, arranging and making sure everything went as planned.
Seoul, Korea, AirportLaura, my sister, has a daughter Alison who is living in Shanghai, China, with her family. After Laura visited there the first time, she came up with the idea of a "family China tour." Well, Laura doesn't just make things happen halfway, she goes all the way!! She planned for a year by researching tourists spots in China and consulting Alison, making telephone calls to travel agencies (ended up using LDS Travel) and checking family schedules. She invited everyone in her immediate family and extended family. Twenty-four of us signed up (two, a mother and her daughter, were Angie's friends and not members of the family, but we loved having them along!) and we spent the next 11 days together exploring Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. Not only did we spend a fun trip with family members, but the tour far exceeded our expectations!!! It truely was the "trip of a lifetime." Thank you, Laura, for all of your planning, arranging and making sure everything went as planned.
My sister Laura sitting in the Seoul Korea Airport waiting for our flight to Beijing (after our 11-hr. flight from LAX).
This airport seemed more like a mall!
Laura and Joyce standing outside one of six Korea Traditional Cultural Experience Centers--an arts and craft experience for those just sitting around in the airport. Everything was free! All we had time for on our trip to Beijing was the little girls made Korea's version of hacky sacks and on the way home five of us dressed up in traditional Korean costumes.
Laura, Natalie, Joyce (back row) and Lauren & Katie (front row)
Korean girl helping with the crafts; Koreans are so polite!
Girls with hacky sacksBEIJING, CHINA
This is our first sighting of what would be many examples of Chinese architecture, and this is just driving away from the airport! Our tour bus for 24 people in all three cities looked similar to the one in this picture. It was nice to be driven around and dropped off and picked up at each location. We also had our own Chinese guide in each of the cities. We enjoyed all three guides; we learned a lot from them!!
Close up of the exit/entrance to the airport. So many buildings, etc., had been freshly painted for the Olympics.
Our first Chinese dining experience--at the Pearl FactoryPearl Factory
A fresh water oyster
Click on this picture to see close-up view of the many pearls in this oysterSummer Palace
This palace was used as a summer residence by China's imperial rulers as a retreat from the Forbidden City. The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China and one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The central lake was entirely manmade, and the excavated soil was used to build the hill where the palace stands.
Hall of Benevolence and Longevity
Bracken Wilde--lion-guarded inscribed archway
The beginning of Chinese wanting pictures with us foreigners!
Doug mimicking lion at East Palace Gate
George and Doug
Kevin & Angie and their four children with man-made Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill in background
This green flag (and guide) pretty much kept us together the entire time in Beijing
My brother, Jerry, and his wife Shelly
The Tower of Buddhist Fragrance seen from a distance
The marble boat, which is not navigable, was built as part of decoration in classical gardens.
Dragon boat we rode across the lake
Another dragon boat
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